JUDICIARY COMMITTEE APPROVES HJELM, STOKES NOMINATIONS

Posted: July 24, 2014 | Judiciary, Senator Valentino

AUGUSTA—In unanimous votes, the Judiciary Committee approved the nominations of the Honorable Jeffrey Hjelm of Camden to be a Maine Supreme Court Justice and William Stokes of Augusta to be a Superior Court Justice.    

 

 

“Justice Hjelm is a respected jurist with more than two decades of experience as a judge and Mr. Stokes has had a distinguished career at the Attorney General’s Office,” said Democratic Senator Linda Valentino, the Senate Chair of the Judiciary Committee. “Both men will be admirable additions to the courts.”

 

 

Prior to his time on the Knox County Superior Court, Justice Hjelm was appointed to the District Court in 1992 by Governor John McKernan. Governor Angus King appointed him to the Superior Court in 1998 and he was reappointed in 2005 by Governor John Baldacci.

 

 

Stokes is the chief of the criminal division in the Office of the Attorney General. During his tenure, he has overseen the prosecution of criminal cases, welfare fraud, drug offenses, and financial crimes. He has also worked in the civil division of the Attorney General’s Office.

 

 

“We look forward to both of the nominees having long and distinguished careers on the bench,” said Representative Charlie Priest of Brunswick, the House Chair of the Judiciary Committee.

 

 

Judicial nominees require Senate approval and the Senate will convene on Thursday, July 31, at 10 a.m. for confirmation votes for Mr. Stokes and Justice Hjelm.  A two-thirds vote is needed to override the committee’s recommendation.



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