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Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 4, § 7 (2026)

General jurisdiction; control of records

✓ current as of May 2026

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The Supreme Judicial Court may exercise its jurisdiction according to the common law not inconsistent with the Constitution or any statute, and may punish contempts against its authority by fine and imprisonment, or either, and administer oaths. It has general superintendence of all inferior courts for the prevention and correction of errors and abuses where the law does not expressly provide a remedy and has control of all records and documents in the custody of its clerks. Whenever justice or the public good requires, it may order the expunging from the records and papers on file in any case which has gone to judgment of any name or other part thereof unnecessary to the purpose and effect of said judgment. It may issue all writs and processes, not within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Superior Court, necessary for the furtherance of justice or the execution of the laws in the name of the State under the seal of said court, attested by any justice not a party or interested in the suit and signed by the clerk.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 8 cases, 1969–2004 · leading case: Matter of Ross, 428 A.2d 858 (Me. 1981).

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Matter of Ross, 428 A.2d 858 (Me. 1981). “In pertinent part, 4 M.R.S.A. § 7 provides: [The Supreme Judicial Court] has general superintendence of all inferior courts for the prevention and correction of errors and abuses where the law does not expressly provide a remedy .”

Dep't of Corr. v. Superior Court, 622 A.2d 1131 (Me. 1993). · cites it 2× “§ 5301 (1980) and 4 M.R.S.A. § 7 (1989). 3 The latter statute authorizes the Supreme Judicial Court to correct errors and abuses of inferior courts, by writ or otherwise, when the law does not expressly provide a remedy.”

Matter of Benoit, 487 A.2d 1158 (Me. 1985). “Similarly, 4 M.R.S.A. § 7 (1979) provides in part: [The Supreme Judicial Court] has general superintendence of all inferior courts for the prevention and correction of errors and abuses where the law does not expressly provide a remedy.”

Sirois v. Winslow, 585 A.2d 183 (Me. 1991). · cites it 2× “" 4 M.R.S.A. § 7; see Laverdiere, 333 A.2d at 702 .”

York Register of Prob. v. York Cnty. Prob. Court, 847 A.2d 395 (Me. 2004). “”); 4 M.R.S.A. § 7 (1989) (stating that the Court “has general superintendence of all inferior courts for the prevention and correction of errors and abuses where the law does not expressly provide a remedy”); 4 M.”

Toussaint v. Perreault, 388 A.2d 918 (Me. 1978). “See 4 M.R.S.A. §§ 7, 8.” Since Laverdiere this Court has again given consideration to the problem which arises when issues are reported which are not of that degree of legal importance prerequisite to the utilization of this appellate mechanism.”

State v. Blaisdell, 253 A.2d 341 (Me. 1969). “4 M.R.S.A. § 7; 4 M.R.S.A. § 114. See also, The State v.”

Mitchell v. Jud. Ethics Comm., 2000 ME 83 (Me. 2000). “” 4 M.R.S.A. § 7 (1989). The Legislature has also specifically recognized the Supreme Judicial Court’s exclusive authority to prescribe the general rules of court.”

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