Rick E. Lawrence
Associate Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Assumed office
May 4, 2022
Appointed byJanet Mills
Preceded byEllen Gorman
Judge of the Lewiston District Court
In office
April 5, 2000 – May 4, 2022
Appointed by
Personal details
Born (1955-11-04) November 4, 1955 (age 68)
Great Barrington, Massachusetts, U.S.
ResidencePortland, Maine
EducationYale University (BA)
Harvard University (JD)

Rick E. Lawrence (born November 4, 1955) is an American lawyer who has served as an associate justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court since 2022.

Education

Lawrence received his Bachelor of Arts from Yale University in 1977 and his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1986.[1][2]

Career

Prior to his judicial service, Lawrence was an attorney and vice president and managing counsel at Unum and as an associate at Pierce Atwood.[2]

Judicial service

Lawrence served as a state district judge from April 5, 2000 to May 4, 2022.[3] He was first nominated by governor Angus King and then renominated by governor John Baldacci, governor Paul LePage and Governor Mills.[2] He served as deputy chief judge since April 2020.[4]

Maine Supreme Judicial Court

On March 7, 2022, governor Janet Mills nominated Lawrence to serve as an associate justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court to the seat to be vacated by Justice Ellen Gorman who announced her intent to retire in January 2021.[2] On April 8, 2022, his nomination was unanimously reported out of the judiciary committee.[5] On April 12, 2022, his nomination was unanimously confirmed by the Maine Senate.[6][7][8] Lawrence was sworn into office on May 4, 2022.[9][10] He is the first African American justice on the high court.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Hon. Rick E. Lawrence Judge Profile on Martindale.com". www.martindale.com. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Governor Mills Nominates Judge Rick Lawrence to Maine Supreme Judicial Court" (Press release). Office of Governor Janet T. Mills. March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  3. ^ Governor's Judicial Nominations Advisory Committee — Candidate Questionnaire, January 7, 2022
  4. ^ Allen, Emily (March 7, 2022). "District Judge Rick Lawrence nominated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court". Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  5. ^ Williams, Christopher (April 8, 2022). "Lewiston judge gets full support of committee for high court job". Lewiston Sun Journal. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  6. ^ Cover, Susan (April 12, 2022). "State Senate confirms Lawrence as Maine's first Black high court justice". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  7. ^ "Maine Senate confirms first Black justice to state's highest court". WPFO. April 12, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  8. ^ "Governor Mills Congratulates Judge Rick Lawrence on Confirmation to Maine Supreme Judicial Court" (Press release). Office of Governor Janet T. Mills. April 12, 2022.
  9. ^ Cover, Susan (May 4, 2022). "Lawrence makes history as Maine's 1st Black high court justice". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  10. ^ "Rick Lawrence sworn in as first Black justice for Maine's highest court". news.yahoo.com. May 6, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  11. ^ "Nominee could become the first Black justice on Maine's highest court". WMTW. March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2022.

External links


Legal offices Preceded byEllen Gorman Associate Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court 2022–present Incumbent


Statewide political officials of Maine
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