(a) Eligibility for Admission
An attorney is eligible to apply for admission to the bar of this Court if the
attorney is:
(1) of good personal and professional character;
(2) an active member in good standing of, and not conditionally admitted
to, the bar of the State of Maine; and
(3) not currently under any order of disbarment, suspension, or any other
discipline by any authority governing the practice of law.
(b) Procedure for Admission
(1) Each applicant must file an application with the Clerk on a form
provided by the Clerk that includes:
(A) the applicant’s state bar number;
(B) a certification that the applicant has read and will comply with
these rules; and
(C) the required application fee.
(2) The application must be accompanied by a letter from a member of the
bar of this Court moving for the applicant’s admission and stating why
admission is appropriate.
(3) The Court will grant the motion with or without a hearing if it
determines that the applicant is eligible under subsection (a).
(4) If the application is granted, the applicant must file a signed Oath or
Affirmation of Admission, as follows:
I solemnly [swear] [affirm] that I will conduct and comport myself as an
attorney and counselor of this the United States District Court for the
District of Maine uprightly and according to law; that I will support the
Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of
Maine; that I will maintain the respect due to Courts of Justice and
judicial officers; that I will never reject, for any personal considerations,
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the cause of the defenseless or oppressed; and that I will strive at all times
to uphold the honor and maintain the dignity of the legal profession, and
to serve justice, [so help me God] [and I do this under the pains and
penalty of perjury].
(5) After the applicant files the signed Oath or Affirmation of Admission,
the applicant will be a member of the bar of this Court.
(c) Attorneys Who Are Not Members of the Bar of this Court
No person may appear or practice before this Court on behalf of another person
if they are not a member in good standing of the bar of this Court, except:
(1) Attorneys Admitted Pro Hac Vice
(A) The Court will grant leave to appear and practice before it to any
attorney who is not a member of the bar of this Court if the
attorney files with the Clerk a certification for admission pro hac
vice for each case in which the attorney will enter an appearance.
The certification must be on a form provided by the Clerk, and
must require the attorney to certify that the attorney:
(i) is admitted to practice in any other United States federal
court or the highest court of any State;
(ii) is not currently under any order of disbarment, suspension,
or any other discipline by any authority governing the
practice of law;
(iii) is not subject to any pending proceedings that might lead
to such discipline before any authority governing the
practice of law; and
(iv) has read and will comply with these rules.
(B) An attorney admitted pro hac vice must associate at all times with
a member of the bar of this Court who has appeared in the action
(local counsel). Local counsel is required to attend any proceeding
before a judge unless excused by the Court.
(C) Attorneys who will appear pro hac vice in this District must also
pay the Clerk the pro hac vice fee listed in the District Court Fee
Schedule in each case in which they appear and must register in
the District’s ECF system.
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(D) The Court will determine the requesting attorney’s eligibility.
(2) Government Attorneys and Federal Public Defenders
(A) The Court grants leave to appear and practice before it to any
attorney:
(i) who is a member in good standing of the bar of any court of
the United States or of the highest court of any State;
(ii) who is employed by the United States or by the State of
Maine, or any of their departments or agencies;
(iii) whose duties involve the representation of the United
States or of the State of Maine, or any of their departments
or agencies, or indigent criminal defendants, in actions in
courts of the United States;
(iv) who is appearing and practicing in any action pursuant to
the duties described in subsection (iii); and
(v) who enters an appearance.
(B) Any attorney practicing in this District under this subsection
must read and comply with these rules.
(3) Attorneys Practicing with Legal Services Organizations
(A) If attorneys practicing with legal services organizations obtain
temporary admission in the Maine state courts, they may submit
the same application to this Court, and the Court may grant them
temporary admission and may impose the same or different
conditions, limitations, and term.
(B) Any attorney practicing in this District under this subsection
must read and comply with these rules.
(d) Disciplinary Jurisdiction and Procedures
(1) Any attorney applying to, appearing, or practicing before this Court
under this rule submits to the Court’s disciplinary jurisdiction.
(2) The Court may revoke the permission to appear and practice before it
granted under subsection (c) for good cause at any time and without a
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hearing. However, the Court may in its discretion use any appropriate
disciplinary procedure set forth in these rules.
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