Washington, DC— Today, the nation's first comprehensive study of the programs that oversee state and federal judges issued Maine's judicial accountability system a failing grade. To shine a light on the typically secretive and toothless systems that often fail to remove abusive and incompetent judges from the bench, legal consumer watchdog group HALT, Inc. released its 2008 Judicial Accountability Report Card, analyzing programs in all 50 states, D.C. and the federal circuits.

"Maine's system of judicial oversight is one of the most secretive in the country," stated HALT Senior Counsel Suzanne M. Blonder. "In an era that embraces principles of sunshine and transparency, it's shameful that the system for monitoring some of the state's most powerful government officials is designed to shut out the public."

HALT's study noted that Maine officials do not release information about ethics complaints against judges unless and until the state's Commission on Judicial Responsibility and Disability files a recommendation for discipline with the state's high court. And unlike rules in most states, Maine "gags" citizens from disclosing information about their ethics complaints against judges.

"By prohibiting consumers from discussing a complaint they have filed against a member of the judiciary, Maine rules infringe upon citizens' First Amendment rights and prevent the public from learning when a judge has abused his power on the bench," stated Blonder.

Maine is also one of only five states in the nation that does not host a Web site with information about its judicial oversight system."Without online resources to clarify how to file a complaint, explain judicial ethics standards or provide information about judges' disciplinary histories, few consumers will be able to understand and use the state's system of judicial oversight in Maine," explained Blonder.

Besides Maine, only one other state-Mississippi-was given an F on HALT's Report Card. None of the top six states-Washington, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Arizona, California and Texas-scored higher than a B average on the Report Card. More than half of the states received grades in the C range and HALT issued D's to 14 jurisdictions.

"At a time when the American public has lost faith in the impartiality and fairness of the nation's judiciary, it's critical that we have an effective system of oversight for judges," stated Blonder. "We hope that Maine's chief judicial officers will work to transform a mechanism marred by secrecy into a system dedicated to upholding the integrity of the judiciary."