Maine Legal Overview: Portland-Lewiston-South Portland The Portland-Lewiston-South Portland metropolitan area in Maine is defined by the Census Bureau as covering Androscoggin, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, and York counties. It can also be said to be a combined statistical area or CSA that includes the three-county Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metro area and the Lewiston-Auburn metro area which covers Androscoggin County. Each county in Maine has a district court with limited jurisdiction and a superior court as the main trial court with general jurisdiction. Listed below are the main cities in the Portland-Lewiston-South Portland metro area.
Top Maine cities for Legal Issues: Portland
1. The Cumberland County Superior Court, located in Portland, has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases filed in the county. The Maine District Court in Portland has limited jurisdiction over misdemeanors, civil disputes which do not require a jury, and family law cases. The small claims court is a special session of the district court, held on certain days and limited to cases which do not exceed $6,000. Auburn likewise has the Androscoggin County Superior Court while the district court for the county is located in Lewiston.
Trending Legal Topics: Maine has no intermediate appellate court. All appeals from the trial courts are taken up for review by the Supreme Court of Maine. Federal cases in all four counties in the Portland-Lewiston-South Portland metro area must be filed with the Portland Division of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine. Bankruptcy filings will likewise be handled by the Portland Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maine. Federal appeals against this court’s decision may be filed with the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals. |