Judiciary committee recommends Hal Stewart for active-retired Superior Court seat
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Summary
The Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary voted 9–0 to recommend the confirmation of Hal (Harold) Stewart II of Bangor for appointment as an active‑retired justice of the Maine Superior Court after testimony praising his trial record and warnings about fewer lawyers and falling jury turnout.
The Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary voted 9–0 to recommend the governor's nomination of Hal (Harold) Stewart II of Bangor to serve as an active‑retired justice of the Maine Superior Court.
Hal Stewart, who introduced himself at the hearing as a long‑time trial lawyer and Superior Court jurist, highlighted a career centered on jury trials and praised court staff while warning that the state does not have enough trial lawyers, particularly in rural counties, and that falling jury participation threatens timely case resolution. "We need probably 70 to 90 jurors to have a successful jury selection day," Stewart said, describing how summons counts have risen into the 160s and 170s in some places.
The nomination drew formal endorsements from the governor's counsel, Jerry Reed, and from Don Pelletier of the Judicial Nominations Advisory Committee, who described Stewart's career and professional reputation. Rachel Oken, president of the Maine State Bar Association, told the committee the MSBA's survey of attorneys rates Stewart "decisive and thoughtful" and urged unanimous approval.
Stewart told members he has led efforts to reduce criminal docket backlogs and credited increased trial time, infrastructure, and higher reimbursement rates for defense counsel with helping reduce pending cases where implemented. He also praised treatment courts as effective, noting a newly funded treatment court in Aroostook County.
Members asked about recruiting and retaining trial lawyers in rural counties, voir dire practices, jury questionnaires and juror education; Stewart urged improved public messaging and advocacy programs to encourage trial work. The hearing closed with the committee taking a roll call vote that produced nine votes in favor, zero against and five absences; the chairs will forward the committee's recommendation to the President of the Senate.
The committee record notes that by statute it may not take the final confirmation vote sooner than 15 minutes after the public hearing closes unless all members agree; the committee followed the required timing before the roll call.
What happens next: the committee's written recommendation will be transmitted to the President of the Senate as provided by Title 3, Chapter 6, Section 157, and the full Senate will consider the nomination according to legislative procedures.