Valerie Stanfill will become the next chief justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, following a unanimous note Thursday by the Maine State Senate.
Besides leading the state's top appellate court, Stanfill will oversee operations within the judicial branch. She will be the second woman to serve in the role after Leigh Saufley, who left the bench last year to become dean of the University of Maine School of Law. Justice Andrew M. Mead has served as acting chief justice since Saufley stepped down.
In a statement issued after Thursday's confirmation vote, Gov. Janet Mills said, “The unanimous vote to confirm Justice Stanfill is a recognition of her sharp intellect, vast legal experience, and commitment to administering justice fairly and impartially.