Maine Court Information

In Maine, we have a three-tiered court system. All criminal cases except felonies begin in district court. If you donIn Maine, we have a three-tiered court system. All criminal cases except felonies begin in district court. If you donít request a jury trial your case will remain in the district court. All felony criminal cases and cases where a jury trial was requested are relegated to the superior court. Finally, all cases that are sent up on appeal for various reasons move on to the Maine Law Court.

Most OUI cases end up in superior court with the number one reason being that if the case has to go to trial, a trial by a jury of your peers is usually the better option than a trial by a single judge. If you have questions about the different criminal courts you should speak with a qualified defense attorney.

The Law Office of William T. Bly
OUI - Operating Under the Influence.
This is Maine's legal definition for drunk driving. OUI includes automobiles, snowmobiles, watercraft and ATVs. OUI encompasses drug impaired driving as well as drunk driving.
DWI - Driving While Intoxicated.
This term is used in some jurisdictions to describe drunk driving, including New Hampshire.
DUI - Driving Under the Influence.
This is the most commonly used term in most jurisdictions throughout the U.S. to describe drunk driving.
OWI - Operating While Intoxicated.
This term is used by only a few jurisdictions to describe drunk driving.

For simplicity sake, DUI & OUI will be used interchangeably on this website.

This website is provided solely for informational purposes and is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship between you and The Law Office of William T. Bly. Any form of communication with us does not create or establish an attorney-client relationship. Out of state visitors should consult competent local counsel in their local jurisdictions as local laws and rules may vary from state to state.