Sen. Baldacci introduces bill to improve Maine’s family court system

AUGUSTA — Sen. Joe Baldacci, D-Bangor, on Tuesday introduced a bill to improve Maine’s family court system and increase staffing. LD 1831, “An Act To Improve the Child and Family Court Process,” was the subject of a public hearing before the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee. 

“As a lawyer, as a legislator, and as a citizen, I see everyday the crisis that takes place in child and family cases across the state. The inability to get a timely hearing in family cases represents a threat to the stability of both Maine families and our legal system,” said Sen. Baldacci. “The backlog of cases in the state has taken the court’s attention away from more urgent matters, including child protective cases. In consultation with judges and other state officials, it’s clear there’s a need to further utilize magistrates and increase the resources we provide them.”

LD 1831 would increase the number of family law magistrates from eight to 24 by Aug. 1, 2024, and increase related staff. It would authorize family law magistrates to hear and dispose of all interim orders in actions involving divorce, legal separation, parentage or parental rights regardless of whether both parents consent. It would authorize family law magistrates to hear and dispose of all pretrial and interim elements of child protection proceedings, except for final prehearing conferences. It also would require the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, the Chief Justice of the Superior Court and the Chief Judge of the District Court to establish annual training and education designed to inform justices, judges and family law magistrates on domestic violence and child abuse, neglect and maltreatment issues.

“The need for more magistrates in Maine is acute. This bill calls for the addition of 16 magistrates and associated staff to continue this important work for families in Maine,” said Julie Finn, representing the Judicial Branch, in testimony supporting the bill. “Currently, there are only eight full-time magistrates to serve the entire state of Maine — a number that has not increased since 1997. The magistrates carry a heavy caseload and work tirelessly to bring enormous benefit to the children and families in Maine.” 

LD 1831 faces further action in committee.