The Associated Press

AUGUSTA – A Maine legislative panel has endorsed Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s nominees for top judicial appointments.

The Judiciary Committee on Thursday unanimously approved Jeffrey Hjelm’s nomination to the Supreme Court of Maine. It also unanimously endorsed Deputy Attorney General William Stokes’ appointment to the Superior Court.

The full Senate is poised to consider the nominees on July 31.

Hjelm, a superior court justice for the Knox County Superior Court, was nominated to the Superior Court by Gov. Angus King in 1998 and reappointed by Gov. Baldacci in 2005. The Camden resident has also served as an assistant attorney general in the criminal division.

Stokes has worked in the Maine Attorney General’s Office since 1997 and serves as chief of the office’s criminal division. He’s also been mayor of Augusta since 2011.


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