Governor LePage Announces Nomination of Associate Justice to Supreme Judicial Court

AUGUSTA, Maine - Governor Paul R. LePage today announced the nomination of Superior Court Chief Justice Thomas E. Humphrey as Associate Justice to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. Chief Justice Humphrey will take the position of Justice Warren M. Silver, who resigned from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court on December 31, 2014.

"I am pleased to nominate Chief Justice Humphrey. He carries a distinguished record serving the Maine people well," said Governor LePage. "In choosing judges, my focus is on the qualifications, demeanor and integrity of the candidates, not politics. I have confidence Chief Justice Humphrey will continue to serve with the honor, integrity and reason he is known for."

Chief Justice Humphrey was appointed to the District Court in 1993 by Governor John McKernan and in 1997 was appointed Deputy Chief Judge of that court. He was first nominated to the Superior Court by Governor Angus King in 1998 and was reappointed by Governor John Baldacci in 2005. Humphrey has served as Chief Justice of the Superior Court since 2004.

"I am thrilled and very honored to be nominated by Governor LePage," he said. "And I am grateful to him for considering me for this important position. I look forward to working with the Legislature in the next stages of the appointment process."

Prior to his appointment to the bench, Chief Justice Humphrey was a partner with the law firm Roberts, Shirley & Humphrey of Springvale, Maine. Previously he served as Assistant District Attorney, York County.

Chief Justice Humphrey is a graduate of Boston College and received his law degree from Boston College Law School.

All judicial nominees must be reviewed by the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary and confirmed by the full Senate.