Senate to take up 6 judicial appointments

AUGUSTA – An $83 million bond package has received most of the attention leading up to Friday’s special legislative session, but also on the State House agenda are Senate confirmations of a half-dozen of Gov. John Baldacci’s judicial appointments.

While the state bond package could stir significant debate, the judicial appointees appear to be poised for an easy ride through the Senate after confirmation reviews by the Judiciary Committee on Thursday yielded no negative votes.

Baldacci’s judicial nominees include Justice Jeffrey Hjelm of Dixmont and Carl Bradford of Yarmouth, who are being renominated to the Superior Court bench. Bradford is to serve as active retired justice.

District Judge Michael Westcott of Damariscotta is up for appointment as active retired judge and Keith Powers of Cape Elizabeth would serve another term as district judge.

Westcott, who recently retired as chief judge of the District Court, helped to organize adult drug treatment courts during his tenure.

New nominees include Ralph Tucker of Brunswick and Marilyn Stavros of Kennebunkport to the District Court bench.

Tucker, an attorney specializing in labor law, served on the Maine Workers’ Compensation Commission from 1981 to 1993 and chaired the commission from 1985 to 1993.

Among those testifying in favor of his appointment Thursday were Senate President Beth Edmonds, D-Freeport, and House Speaker John Richardson.

Richardson, D-Brunswick, said Tucker is held in high regard among Maine lawyers.

“Ralph isn’t in it for the money; he serves so he can make a difference in the lives of his neighbors,” said Richardson, noting that Tucker has been active in local school and government issues in Brunswick.

Stavros, a case management officer in the District Court system, previously served as an assistant attorney general and specialized in child protection cases.

“Over the last seven years, Marilyn has repeatedly demonstrated that she has an even but firm judicial temperament,” Baldacci legal counsel Thomas Federle told the committee. He described Stavros as “intelligent, balanced, fair and courteous.”