Maine Senate Confirms First Black Man To State's Highest Court

AUGUSTA, ME — District Judge Rick Lawrence made history Tuesday when the Maine Senate voted unanimously to appoint him to the Supreme Judicial Court, making him the first Black man to serve on the state's highest court.

Lawrence has been a district judge since 2000, the Portland Press Herald reported. He was also the first Black man appointed to Maine's district court.

Once confirmed, Lawrence will serve as an associate justice on the court.

"I am deeply honored by the opportunity to serve on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, an appointment that comes with formidable responsibility and unparalleled opportunity to serve the people of our great state," Lawrence said in a statement released by the office of Gov. Janet Mills. "I promise to work tirelessly to serve the people of Maine and to administer justice fairly and impartially to the people of Maine, just as they deserve."

Since he was appointed a district judge, Lawrence has spent more than two decades presiding over cases in Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties, many of which dealt with housing, crime, domestic relations, monetary damages and family law, according to the Press Herald.

Gov. Janet Mills nominated Lawrence on March 7. He is Mills’ fourth nomination to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court since she took office.

Lawrence will be sworn in this month.