CHAPTER 69
H.P. 732 - L.D. 952
An Act to Correct Errors in the Laws Regarding Court Unification
Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, in Public Law 1999, chapter 731, the 119th Legislature enacted legislation concerning court unification; and
Whereas, that legislation inadvertently eliminated the jurisdiction of a single Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to sit on the Superior Court; and
Whereas, it is essential to correct this error immediately; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §2-A, as amended by PL 1999, c. 547, Pt. B, §1 and affected by §80, is further amended to read:
§2-A. Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to sit in Superior Court, District Court
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court may assign a Justice or Active Retired Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to sit in the Superior Court or the District Court, and when so directed the justice has authority and jurisdiction in the Superior Court or the District Court as if the justice were a regular justice or judge of that court. When assigned under this section, the justice may hear all matters and issue all orders, notices, decrees and judgments that any Justice of the Superior Court or Judge of the District Court is authorized to hear and issue.
The order of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court directing a Justice or an Active Retired Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to sit in the Superior Court or the District Court must be filed with the Executive Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court, but need not be docketed or otherwise recorded in any case heard by that justice.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved, except as otherwise indicated.
Effective May 2, 2001.
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