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Maine Court Records

Maine Court Records

1699 - 1839: Inferior Courts of Common Pleas had jurisdiction over civil matters. These were replaced by the District Courts.

1839 - 1852: District Courts were districtwide courts with jurisdiction over minor civil and criminal actions. These were replaced by the Supreme Judicial Court.

1782 - present: The Supreme Judicial Court is the highest Court of Appeals. In 1852, the Supreme Judicial Court assumed the powers and duties of the District Courts, but the State remained divided into three judicial districts: Western, Eastern, and Middle.

1699 - 1831: The Court of General Sessions had jurisdiction over minor civil and criminal cases. This became the County Commissioners' Courts in 1831. These courts were replaced by District Courts in 1961.

1699 - 1782, 1868 - present: Superior Courts were established by the individual counties in various years. By 1929, a Superior Court had been established in each county. They have jurisdiction over felonies and civil cases.

1821 - 1961: Justices of the Peace handled minor civil matters. When Justices moved or died, their records were usually transferred to the Clerk of Courts.

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