Coronavirus Pandemic: Emergency Response Laws in Maine

Governor Janet T. Mills

Governor's COVID-19 Resource Page

Proclamations

• Proclamation Declaring Abnormal Market Disruption Emergency - March 17th (PDF)

• Proclamation of State of Civil Emergency to Further Protect Public Health - March 15 (PDF)

• Proclamation of Insurance Emergency - March 12 (PDF)

• Proclamation to Renew the State of Civil Emergency - April 14th (PDF) through May 15

• Proclamation to Renew the State of Emergency - May 13, (PDF) through June 11

• Proclamation to Renew the State of Civil Emergency - June 10 (PDF) through July 10

• Proclamation to Renew the State of Civil Emergency - July 8 (PDF) for 30 days

• A Proclamation to Renew the Civil State of Emergency - August 5 (PDF) for 30 days

• Proclamation to Renew the State of Civil Emergency - September 2 (PDF) for 30 days

• Proclamation to Renew the State of Civil Emergency - September 30 (PDF) for 30 days

• Proclamation to Renew the State of Civil Emergency - October 29th (PDF) for 30 days

• Proclamation to Renew the State of Civil Emergency - November 24 (PDF) for 30 days

• Proclamation to Renew the State of Civil Emergency - December 22 (PDF) for 30 days

• Proclamation to Renew the State of Emergency - January 19, 2021 (PDF) for 30 days

• Proclamation to Renew the State of Emergency - February 17, 2021 for 30 days

• Proclamation to Renew the State of Emergency - March 17, 2021 for 30 days

• Proclamation to Renew the State of Civil Emergency - April 14, 2021 for 30 days

• Proclamation to Renew the State of Civil Emergency - May 13, 2021 for 30 days

• Proclamation to Renew the State of Civil Emergency - June 11, 2021 for 30 days

Executive Orders

FY 2019-2020

FY 2020-2021

Emergency Orders

See the SJC (Law Court) COVID-19 alerts website for updates. Contact a librarian for a copy of any superseded order which results in an link error. State of Maine Judicial Branch COVID-19 Phased Management Plan (updated November 3, 2020)

• November 3, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court issued a revision to PMO-SJC-7: Order Regarding Trial Court Remote Proceedings and Public Access. This revision confirms that participation of witnesses or parties by telephone or remote video may be permitted at the Court's discretion with consideration given to witnesses of parties who are over the age of 60 or at risk for COVID-19 complications.
• November 3, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court issued a revision to PMO-SJC-6: Emergency Rules from the Supreme Judicial Court for Forcible Entry and Detainer (Eviction) Cases. This revision extends the effective period to December 31, 2020 and removes the requirement that a CARES Act verification form be filed in FED cases.
• October 8, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court issued a revision to PMO-SJC-1: Revised Emergency Order and Notice from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.
• September 28, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court issued a revision to PMO-SJC-3: Order Regarding Submission of Documents by Email and Filing of Petitions for Preliminary Protection Orders (22 M.R.S. § 4034).
• September 23, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court issued PMO-SJC-8: Emergency Rules from the Supreme Judicial Court on Waiver of Initial Appearances, The order allows individuals represented by attorneys in criminal cases who are
  charged with Class A, B, or C offenses to waive their initial appearance upon their attorney's entry of appearance and certifications as provided in the PMO.

....

• June 5, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court issued a revision to PMO-SJC-2 to consolidate, clarify, correct, and ratify earlier emergency orders, including the administration of oaths at depositions conducted remotely via audio-video communication equipment and other matters.
• June 4, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court issued a revision to PMO-SJC-4 to allow for the refund of fees paid to the Maine Board of Bar Examiners for the cancelled July examination dates under certain circumstances.
• May 28, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court issued a revision to PMO-SJC-1 to incorporate the State of Maine Judicial Branch COVID-19 Phased Management Plan.
• May 20, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court issued a revision to PMO-SJC-2, providing additional clarity on the 49-day extension of due dates.
• May 13, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court issued revisions to two Pandemic Management Orders. The revised orders replace and supersede previous orders.
  • PMO-SJC-1: This revised order corrects errors in the previous order.
  • PMO-SJC-2: This revised order  provides that the provision creating the 49 day extension of due dates will not apply to due dates that occur after June 1.
• May 5, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court and Trial Courts issued revisions to three Pandemic Management Orders. The revised orders replace and supersede previous orders:
  • PMO-SJC-1
  • PMO-SJC-3
  • PMO-TC-1

• April 17, 2020: PMO-SJC-5 Order Regarding Petitions Concerning Control of Notifiable Diseases and Conditions.
• April 15, 2020: PMO-SJC-4 Order Regarding the Maine Bar Examination (rescheduling July bar to September 30/October 1; extending deadline)
• April 15, 2020: PMO-TC-1 Pandemic Management Order from the Maine Trial Court Chiefs Consolidating, Ratifying, and Superseding Previous Orders was revised.
• April 14, 2020: PMO-SJC-1 Revised Emergency Order and Notice from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court was revised.
• March 30, 2020: PMO-SJC-2 Pandemic Management Order from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court Consolidating, Ratifying, and Superseding the Previous Orders. This order from the Supreme Judicial Court consolidates, ratifies, and supersedes the previous orders concerning the administration of oaths at depositions, the electronic filing of motions directly bearing on a criminal defendant’s liberty interests, unexpired deadlines in Trial Court cases, unexpired deadlines relating to Law Court appeals, and face-to-face or in-person contacts with children and families.
• March 30, 2020:  PMO-SJC-3 Emergency Rule from the Supreme Judicial Court for the Filing of Documents in Priority Case Types. This order is intended to reinforce and reiterate the requirement that only certain documents may be sent to Clerk’s offices by email.
• March 27, 2020: Emergency Order Regarding Hearings Conducted Pursuant to Title 34-B, Sections 3864 and 3873-A. Effective immediately, the Maine District Court issued an order to allow all mental health hearings scheduled in District Court pursuant to Title 34-B, sections 3864 and 3873-A, to be conducted via videoconference.
• March 23, 2020:  Emergency Order Extending the Time for Payment of Fines, Restitution, Court Fees, and Reimbursement of Court-Appointed Counsel Fees. (Superior and District Courts)
• March 20, 2020:  Emergency Order Regarding Electronic Filing of Motions Directly Bearing on a Criminal Defendant’s Liberty Interests. (Superior and District Courts)
• March 18, 2020: Order Regarding Child Protection Proceedings. (District Court)
• March 18, 2020: Revised Emergency Order and Notice Court Safety and Coronavirus (COVID-19). (Supreme Judicial Court)
• March 17, 2020: Emergency Order Extending Unexpired Deadlines. (Superior and District Courts)
• March 17, 2020: Emergency Order Extending Unexpired Deadlines Relating to Law Court Appeals. (Maine Supreme Judicial Court)
• March 17, 2020: Emergency Order Suspending All Medical Malpractice Proceedings. (Superior Court)
• March 16, 2020: Emergency Order Vacating Warrants for Unpaid Fines, Unpaid Restitution, Unpaid Court-Appointed Counsel Fees, and Other Criminal Fees. (Superior and District Courts)
• March 16, 2020: Emergency Order Regarding Face-to-Face or In-Person Contacts with Children and Families. (Superior and District Courts)
• March 13, 2020:  Revised Emergency Order and Notice Court Safety and Coronavirus (COVID-19). (Revised March 18, 2020) (Supreme Judicial Court)