Madawaska District Court To Close In November - Statement

Madawaska District Court

Maine’s judicial branch has announced the closure of Madawaska’s rarely-open district court on November 1.

In a statement, it was announced that the cost saving measure will save money on rent, travel costs, security, and needed upgrades. Pending civil, family, and criminal cases will be transferred to either Caribou District Court or Fort Kent District Court.

Madawaska, St. David, Grand Isle, and Lille cases will go to Fort Kent. Keegan, Van Buren, Hamilton Plantation, and Cyr Plantation cases will go to Caribou.

The statement quoted said Judicial Branch State Court Administrator Amy Quinlan: “The Madawaska court is presently open only two days per month, one day for civil and family matters and one day for criminal matters. Consolidating the operations of Madawaska to courthouses in Caribou or Fort Kent will save approximately $50,000 per year in rent, overtime, and travel costs.”

Judicial Branch Director of Legal Affairs and Public Relations Barbara Cardone commented, “The closing and consolidation of the Madawaska court is an all-around positive step because it saves expense for the Judicial Branch and benefits the residents of Aroostook County, who will have access to secure, full-time courthouses in either Caribou or Fort Kent beginning November 1.”

The additional travel for defendants was not mentioned in the statement.