An Act To Promote Impartiality in the Probate Court
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §309 is amended by adding at the end a new paragraph to read:
Beginning January 1, 2019, a judge of probate may not appear as counsel in any contested probate proceeding. Beginning January 1, 2021, a judge of probate may not practice law in the State while serving as a judge of probate.
summary
Beginning January 1, 2019, this bill prohibits probate judges from appearing as counsel in contested probate cases. Beginning January 1, 2021, this bill also prohibits probate judges from engaging in the practice of law while they are serving as probate judges.