High court to hear six cases in Bangor

BANGOR – The Maine Supreme Judicial Court, in an effort to be more accessible to people around the state, will hear oral arguments in six cases Thursday at Penobscot County Superior Court in the third-floor courtroom. The Law Court, as it is known when hearing certain kinds of cases, is expected to issue its rulings at a later date.

“It is important that our citizens have the opportunity to observe the Supreme Judicial Court at work,” said Chief Justice Leigh Saufley, in announcing the schedule recently. “We are pleased to be able to sit in Bangor and hope to travel to other parts of Maine during the upcoming year. We welcome visitors to the courtroom throughout the day.”

Court will convene at 9:30 a.m. to hear the appeal of Malia Lowry on her conviction for manslaughter in connection with the July 6, 2000, death of Robert Leighton in Township 10, Hancock County. Lowry asserts that the trial court committed reversible error by, among other things, failing to admit expert testimony explaining the phenomenon of psychological manipulation and domestic captivity. Lowry was convicted of shooting Leighton to death.

At 10:20 a.m., the court will hear an appeal by Vernon Haines on behalf of the Millinocket-based Fin and Feather Club from a summary judgment entered in Superior Court favoring Great Northern Paper and associated entities in connection with Haines’ suit seeking access to certain woodland properties.

At 11:20 a.m., the court will hear the appeal of Consumers for Affordable Health Care from a decision of the state’s superintendent of insurance approving the sale of the assets of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine to Anthem Insurance Cos. of Indiana.

In the afternoon session beginning at 2 p.m., the court will hear the appeal of Donald Veader from a Superior Court judgment declaring Veader’s membership with the Pembroke School Committee to be in violation of state law.

At 2:50 p.m., the court will hear Levi Carpenter of Harrington’s appeal from a summary judgment entered in favor of Allstate Insurance Co. in connection with his suit against Allstate.

At 3:30 p.m., the court will hear the appeal of Danyelle E. Young from summary judgment entered in District Court in Bar Harbor granting Jeffrey H. Young an order for protection from abuse. Danyelle Young asserts that Jeffrey Young did not have standing to request a protection from abuse order on behalf of a child who was not his biological or adopted child and that the District Court did not have authority to award custody of the child to Jeffrey Young.

The court will continue its September term with oral arguments in Portland on Sept. 9-11.