The Maine Senate overwhelmingly confirmed York County Superior Court Justice Wayne Douglas’ nomination to the state’s Supreme Judicial Court on Thursday.

Justice Wayne Douglas

Douglas was nominated by Gov. Janet Mills on Feb. 1 and recommended for confirmation on a bipartisan vote from the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. The Senate confirmed Douglas, who has been a judge since 2002, in a 26-1 vote.

Testifying before the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Douglas said the state’s court system faces a backlog of criminal cases, a shortage of court-appointed attorneys for the poor and problems related to the courts having to deal with a large number of people with mental health or substance use disorders. He said the courts need to constantly question how they do things to come up with solutions to those problems.

Douglas, 71, will replace Thomas Humphrey, who retired from the state’s top court last year.