Courthouse Building and Capital Improvement Projects
The Judicial Branch Facilities team oversees the ongoing maintenance and repair of state courthouses through budget appropriations made by the Maine Legislature. Construction of new courthouse facilities and major capital improvements are funded by tax-exempt governmental bonds authorized by the Legislature.
Contact info@courts.maine.gov for questions about courthouse building and capital improvement projects.
Current Proposals
LD 2090, An Act to Modernize and Consolidate Certain Court Facilities, became law on May 1, 2024. The legislation allows the Maine Governmental Facilities Authority to increase the amount of securities that it may issue to fund new court facilities in Hancock, Somerset, and Androscoggin Counties. Read State Court Administrator Amy Quinlan’s testimony on LD 2090, An Act to Modernize and Consolidate Certain Court Facilities.
Hancock Judicial Center
Summary
The Judicial Branch proposes building a new Judicial Center at 120 Surry Road in Ellsworth to replace the Hancock County Courthouse at 50 State Street. The Hancock County Courthouse was built in 1931 and has numerous safety, space, electrical, mechanical, and parking deficiencies that have negatively affected court operations and public service for many years.
Proposed Site & Building Plan
On March 15, 2024, after an extensive search and after discussions with city, county, and state officials, the Judicial Branch purchased an 18-acre parcel, seven acres of which will be developed for the new facility.
The building will be 2.5 stories high, with a building footprint of about 25,000 square feet, four courtrooms, a consolidated clerk’s office, at least eight conference rooms, 125 public parking spaces and will be fully accessible throughout. The Hancock Judicial Center will cost about $55M to design and construct. FAQs on the Hancock Judicial Center Proposal
The project will comply with the City of Ellsworth’s zoning requirements and the planning board approval process, which has not begun.
Additional Information
Existing Conditions Plan for 120 Surry Road, Ellsworth (PDF)
Wetland Report for 120 Surry Road, July 24, 2023 (PDF)
Somerset Judicial Center
Summary
Somerset County is currently served by two courthouses in Skowhegan: the Skowhegan District Courthouse and the Somerset County Superior Courthouse, both aging and obsolete courthouses. Neither of these two buildings alone provides sufficient space to meet the present and future operational needs of Somerset County. The Judicial Branch proposes to renovate and add an addition to the Skowhegan District Courthouse and return the Somerset County Superior Court building to the County, consolidating court operations into one building.
Proposed Site & Building Plan
The proposed site of the new Somerset County Judicial Center will be at 55 Court Street in Skowhegan. We will be adding to the existing courthouse a 30,000 square foot three-story addition. It will feature four courtrooms (two jury and two non-jury), at least eight public conference rooms, and an enlarged area for a clerk’s office. We expect the courthouse design and construction to cost $45M.
Approximate time frame: April 2026 through December 2027.
Androscoggin Judicial Center
Summary
Androscoggin County is presently served by the District Court on Lisbon Street in Lewiston and the aging Androscoggin County Courthouse in Auburn. The Judicial Branch proposes consolidating the two facilities by adding on to the District Court building and returning the space occupied by the Androscoggin Superior Court building in Auburn to Androscoggin County. The resulting facility will be located on Lisbon Street in downtown Lewiston and be known as the Androscoggin Judicial Center.
Proposed Site & Building Plan
To build this facility, the Judicial Branch plans to acquire the building at 55 Lisbon Street, next door to the present District Court. We plan to gut the building and remodel it to add three additional courtrooms (two jury and one non-jury) to the five courtrooms already in the District Court building. At least eight more public conference rooms and, if space allows, an additional room for dispositional conferences and hearings, will be added. We expect the courthouse design and construction to cost approximately $105M.
Approximate time frame: April 2027 through October 2029.