Maine Judicial Branch COVID-19 Orders (March 2020 to present)

For a list of all active orders go to: Maine Courts Response to COVID-19 on the Judicial Department website.

Please Note: Review these orders carefully. Most are superseded and no longer in effect. They are posted for archival purposes only.


Initial Emergency Orders


I. Phased Management Plan

II. Visitor Restrictions to all Maine Courts

III. PMO-SJC-1: Revised Emergency Order and Notice from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court

IV. PMO-SJC-2: Pandemic Management Order from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court Consolidating, Ratifying, and Superseding the Previous Orders Concerning:

A. The Administration of Oaths at Depositions,
B. The Electronic Filing of Motions Directly Bearing on a Criminal Defendant’s Liberty Interests,
C. Unexpired Deadlines in Trial Court Cases,
D. Unexpired Deadlines Relating to Law Court Appeal, and
E. Face-to-Face or In-Person Contacts with Children and Families
F. Depositions in Civil Cases
G. Electronic Signatures

V. PMO-SJC-3: Emergency Rule from the Supreme Judicial Court for Filings of Documents in Priority Case Types

VI. PMO-SJC-3A: Order Regarding Submission of Documents by Email in Protection from Abuse and Protection from Harassment Cases

VII. PMO-SJC-4: Order Regarding the Maine Bar Examination

VIII. PMO-SJC-5: Order Regarding Petitions Concerning Control of Notifiable Diseases and Conditions

IX. PMO-SJC-6: Emergency Rules for Forcible Entry and Detainer (Eviction) Cases

X. PMO-SJC-7: Order Regarding Trial Court Remote Proceedings and Public Access

XI. PMO-SJC-8: Emergency Rules on Waiver of Initial Appearances (PMO-SJC-8)

XII. PMO-SJC-9: Emergency Order and Notice from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court Concerning Access to State Courthouses (PMO-SJC-9)

XIII. PMO-SJC-10: Order Regarding Remote Child Protective Custody Procedings(PMO-SJC-10)

XIV. PMO-SJC-11: Order Extending Grace Period for Attonreys' MCLE Compliance(PMO-SJC-11)

XV. PMO-SJC-12: Order Creating a Pilot Project for Stand-Alone Small Claims Mediation (PMO-SJC-12)

XVI. PMO-TC-1: Maine Trial Court Chiefs Consolidating, Ratifying and Superseding Previous Orders

XVII. PMO-DC-1: District Court Order to Extend the Guardian ad Litem Continuing Professional Education Reporting Deadline

XVIII. November 3, 2020 STATEMENT FROM THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE REGARDING THE SCHEDULING OF CASES IN MAINE COURTS

XIX. COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions, Last revised December 11, 2020

XX. Post-Pandemic Management Order, PPMO-SJC-1, Administrative Order and Notice from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court

XXI. Post-Pandemic Management Order, PPMO-SJC-2, Order regading Trial Court Remote Proceedings

XXII. Post-Pandemic Management Order, PPMO-TC-1, Administrative Order from the Trial Court Chiefs Regarding Previous Pandemic Management Orders

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	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued May 27, 2020
Version 2	Issued July 2, 2020
Version 3	Issued July 31, 2020
Version 4	Issued August 28, 2020
Version 5	Issued November 3, 2020
Version 6	Issued February 17, 2021
Version 7	Issued March 15, 2021
Version 8	Issued May 6, 2021

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued April 8, 2020
Version 2	Revised May 27, 2020
Version 3	Revised November 3, 2020

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued March 30, 2020
Version 2	Revised April 14, 2020
Version 3	Revised April 22, 2020
Version 4	Revised May 5, 2020
Version 5	Revised May 13, 2020
Version 6	Revised May 28, 2020
Version 7	Revised October 8, 2020
Version 8	Revised January 12, 2021
Version 9	Revised May 6, 2021
	Rescinded June 1, 2021 by PPMO-SJC-1

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued March 30, 2020
Version 2	Revised May 13, 2020
Version 3	Revised May 20, 2020
Version 4	Revised June 5, 2020
Version 5	Revised December 14, 2020

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued March 30, 2020
Version 2	Revised May 5, 2020
Version 3	Replaced September 3, 2020
Version 4	Revised September 23, 2020
Version 5	Revised September 28, 2020
Version 6	Revised December 14, 2020
Version 7	Revised May 27, 2021

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued December 14, 2020
Version 2	Revised June 1, 2021

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued April 15, 2020
Version 2	Revised June 4, 2020
Version 3	Revised July 16, 2020
Version 4	Revised December 10, 2020
Version 5	Revised April 26, 2021

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued April 17, 2020
	Rescinded June 1, 2021 by PPMO-SJC-1

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued July 21, 2020
Version 2	Revised July 23, 2020
Version 3	Revised November 3, 2020
Version 4	Revised December 22, 2020
Version 5	Revised February 17, 2020
Version 6	Revised April 1, 2021
Version 7	Revised June 1, 2021

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued July 29, 2020
Version 2	Revised September 4, 2020
Version 3	Revised November 3, 2020
Version 4	Revised December 14, 2020
Version 5	Revised February 17, 2021
	Rescinded June 1, 2021 by PPMO-SJC-1

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued September 23, 2020
Version 2	Issued December 14, 2020

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued December 22, 2020
Version 2	Revised April 2, 2021
Version 3	Revised April 30, 2021
	Rescinded June 1, 2021 by PPMO-SJC-1

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued February 17, 2021
Version 2	Issued February 18, 2021
	Rescinded June 1, 2021 by PPMO-SJC-1

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued February 23, 2021
	Rescinded June 1, 2021 by PPMO-SJC-1

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued March 15, 2021
Version 2	Revised May 6, 2021

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued March 30, 2020
Version 2	Revised April 14, 2020
Version 3	Revised May 5, 2020
Version 4	Revised June 4, 2020
Version 5	Revised February 17, 2021

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued July 1, 2020

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued June 1, 2021
Version 2	Issued June 28, 2021
Version 3	Issued July 1, 2021
Version 4	Issued August 16, 2021
Version 5	Issued March 11, 2022
Version 6	Issued May 4, 2022

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued June 1, 2021. Please note PMO-SJC-2(B) has been rescinded by PPMO-SJC-1 effective June 1, 2021. This order consolidates, clarifies, corrects, and ratifies earlier emergency orders, including the administration of oaths at depositions conducted remotely via audio-video communication equipment and other matters.

	Date	Full Text
Version 1	Issued July 13, 2021