Maine Gov. Paul R. LePage, on Wednesday, March 29, announced the nomination of District Attorney Geoffrey Rushlau to the Maine District Court.
“As governor, I have the utmost respect and have been impressed with the high-quality work of the judicial branch. In choosing judges, my focus is on the qualifications, demeanor, and integrity of the candidates, not politics. All of my nominees reflect these priorities,” LePage said. “I am confident that Mr. Rushlau will live up to the high standards we expect from Maine judges.”
Rushlau, of Dresden, is one of Maine’s longest-serving prosecutors. Gov. John McKernan appointed Rushlau district attorney after the appointment of his predecessor, William Anderson, as a District Court judge in June 1993. Rushlau has since won six consecutive four-year terms.
Rushlau represents Maine Prosecutorial District 6, which consists of Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, and Waldo counties. He was an assistant district attorney in Androscoggin County from 1980-1983 and Sagadahoc County from 1983-1993.
Only R. Christopher Almy has more time as a district attorney in Maine. Almy represents District 5, which consists of Penobscot and Piscataquis counties.
Rushlau did not rule out the possibility of a future as a judge in an interview with The Lincoln County News prior to his re-election in 2014.
“Other than the possibility of, at some point, applying to be a judge, I really have no interest in anything else other than doing what I’m doing right now, because, in many ways, it is really one of the best legal jobs you could ever hope to have,” he said.
Rushlau is a member of the Maine Prosecutors Association and served twice as president, from 1998-2000 and 2006-2008. He is also a member of the National District Attorneys Association, Criminal Law Advisory Commission, Maine Criminal Justice Academy Board of Trustees, and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency Advisory Board.
He is a graduate of Brunswick High School, Beloit College, and the University of Maine School of Law.
The Lincoln County News will update this post.
District Attorney Geoff Rushlau (J.W. Oliver photo, LCN file)
