Maine Rules of Electronic Courts Systems (RECS) Working Group

Type: Working Group
Established: November 22, 2021
Revised: October 23, 2023
Chair: Laura Pearlman, Esq., Manager, Civil Process
Report Date: As needed, upon request of the Supreme Judicial Court or the Odyssey Executive Steering Committee (ESC)
Reports to: Supreme Judicial Court and the Odyssey Executive Steering Committee (ESC)

I.  Purpose:   
 The purpose of the Working Group is to review and propose revisions to the Maine Rules of Electronic Court Systems.  Requests for action by the Working Group may be submitted by the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) or the Executive Steering Committee (ESC). The Working Group may also undertake review and propose revisions upon its own initiative.

The Working Group will

  • Review any specific requests or concerns related to the Maine Rules of Electronic Court Systems communicated by the SJC or ESC to the Working Group or undertaken upon the initiative of the Working Group.
  • Report the results of its review to the SJC and ESC with recommendations for revisions or additions and submit a draft of any proposed changes.

II.  Authority:
The Working Group may seek input, suggestions, and recommendations from individuals and groups within and outside of the Judicial Branch.  The Working Group is authorized to study procedures considered by or in effect in other court systems as well as any other model procedures.  It is authorized to consult with any person or organization as necessary.

III.  Membership:
  Members are appointed for two-year terms by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court.  Members may be reappointed for two additional terms. 

The Committee shall consist of

    • One Superior Court Justice to be designated by the Chief Justice of the Superior Court;
    • One District Court Judge to be designated by the Chief Judge of the District Court;
    • One Magistrate to be designated by the Chief Judge of the District Court;
    • Two or more members of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC);
    • One Clerk of Court or Court Manager;
    • One representative from the Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure;
    • One representative from the Advisory Committee on the Rules of Unified Criminal Procedure;
    • One representative from the Advisory Committee on the Rules of Evidence;
    • One representative from the Office of Information Technology to serve as technical consultant.
    • One Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to serve as Liaison; and
    • Other members appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court shall designate one member to serve as Committee Chair.

IV.  Meetings:
The RECS Working Group shall meet or communicate as directed by the Chair.

V.  Reporting:
The Working Group will submit written reports and drafts to the Supreme Judicial Court and the ESC.

VI.  Committee Duration:
The Working Group will be a Standing Committee of the Judicial Branch.

Dated:  October 23, 2023 

Approved by:
Valerie Stanfill
Chief Justice

Membership Roster

All terms end September 1, 2025

Hon. M. Michaela Murphy, Justice, Superior Court
Hon. Michael A. Duddy, Judge, District Court
Hon. Jeffrey Moskowitz, Judge, District Court
Hon. Robert M. Laskey, Magistrate, Family Division
Laura Pearlman, Esq., Civil Process and Foreclosure Diversion Program Manager, AOC, Chair
Jonathan B. Huntington, Esq., Court Operations Legal Process Manager, AOC
Julie W. Howard, Esq., Manager of Court Operations, York County Courts
Diana Durgin, Clerk, Bangor District Court and Penobscot County Superior Court
Christen Haskell, Court Operations Specialist, AOC
Eric J. Wycoff, Esq., Pierce Atwood, LLC; Member, Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure
Laura A. Yustak, Esq., Assistant Attorney General; Member, Advisory Committee on the Rules of Unified Criminal Procedure
Jonathan Selkowitz, Esq., Pine Tree Legal Assistance
TBD, Member, Advisory Committee on the Rules of Evidence

TECHNICAL CONSULTANT
Chris Oberg, Manager of Application Development & Implementation, Office of Information Technology, AOC

SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT LIAISON
Hon. Andrew M. Mead, Associate Justice, Maine Supreme Judicial Court

Amended November 21, 2023