On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court suspended Hancock County’s probate judge, William B. Blaisdell IV, from the bench for the second time in less than a year. This suspension will keep him from presiding over probate cases for a year, following a series of court findings regarding his failure to comply with obligations stemming from his 2019 divorce.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Judge William B. Blaisdell IV,” with case number JUD-24-1.

Blaisdell, who has served as the part-time probate judge for the past decade, was first suspended for four months in the fall of 2024. His recent suspension comes just nine days after the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar suspended his law license for one year due to misconduct. The Board, which oversees the behavior of licensed attorneys in Maine, cited Blaisdell’s repeated failures to meet court-ordered requirements related to his divorce.

The latest ruling by the Supreme Judicial Court highlights that probate judges in Maine must hold valid law licenses. With Blaisdell’s law license currently suspended, he is deemed ineligible to serve on the bench. According to the court’s order, his suspension will last for eight months or until he is reinstated as an attorney eligible to practice law, whichever period is longer. Blaisdell, 55, resides in Ellsworth.

County officials indicated that state law permits them to appoint another probate judge from Maine to handle cases during Blaisdell’s suspension. Probate judges are responsible for ruling on various family-related legal matters, including estates, guardianships, and name changes.

Blaisdell has faced significant public scrutiny in the past year, particularly after being held in contempt of court in Waldo County for not adhering to his divorce settlement. In March 2024, a judge criticized Blaisdell for failing to pay approximately $50,000 to his ex-wife, which included child support and attorney fees, as well as for not filing federal or state income tax returns for over three years.

Following this contempt ruling, an agreement was reached with the Board of Overseers that would suspend Blaisdell for one year; however, this suspension was contingent upon him meeting specific conditions. These included filing overdue tax returns within a 90-day period and complying fully with all court orders, especially those pertaining to his divorce.

In addition, a separate investigation by the State Committee on Judicial Conduct led to Blaisdell’s initial four-month suspension last fall. The court described his misconduct as severe, emphasizing that a sitting judge’s contempt for court orders undermines public trust in the judicial system.

After returning to his position earlier this year, Blaisdell was again found to have failed to meet the requirements of his divorce. In February, a Waldo County judge held him in contempt once more for not paying an additional $17,000 in overdue child support and attorney fees to his ex-wife. This sum was in addition to the earlier $50,000 he owed as of March 2024.

During a recent communication with state officials regarding the oversight board’s latest petition, Blaisdell acknowledged that he had not kept up with the filing of his overdue tax returns or provided proof of compliance to the Board of Overseers, as noted in an order signed by Justice James Martemucci.

Blaisdell has held the position of Hancock County probate judge since his initial election in 2014. He narrowly won re-election in 2018 against Lynne Williams, a lawyer from Bar Harbor who later served in the Maine House of Representatives before her law license was suspended in January for alleged misconduct.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.