The highest state court is the supreme judicial court, with a chief justice and six associate justices appointed by the governor, with the consent of the legislature, for seven-year terms (as are all other state judges). The supreme judicial court has statewide appellate jurisdiction in all civil and criminal matters. The 16-member superior court, which has original jurisdiction in cases involving trial by jury and also hears some appeals, holds court sessions in all 16 counties. The district courts hear non-felony criminal cases and small claims and juvenile cases, and have concurrent jurisdiction with the superior court in divorce and civil cases involving less than $30,000. A probate court judge is elected in each county.
Maine's crime rate in 2001 was 2,688.2 per 100,000 persons, including a total of 1,434 violent crimes and 33,154 crimes against property in that year. There were 1,693 state and federal prisoners in June 2001, or 126 per 100,000, a decrease of 1.3% from the previous year. Maine has not had a death penalty since 1887. The state does provide for life without parole.