Civil procedure includes the procedures and rules that govern civil (non-criminal) litigation in state and federal courts. Many states have rules of civil procedure written by the state supreme court, for example, and other states include their rules of procedure in state statutes enacted by the state legislature.
In Maine, civil procedure is governed by the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure, which are promulgated by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. These rules outline the procedures for conducting civil litigation in the state courts of Maine and cover various aspects of the legal process, including filing complaints, serving documents, conducting discovery, trial procedures, and appeals. The rules are designed to ensure fairness and efficiency in the legal process. Additionally, federal cases in Maine are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure when they are in the United States District Court for the District of Maine. These federal rules are consistent across all federal courts and are established by the United States Supreme Court, subject to the approval of Congress. It's important to note that while the state rules apply to cases in Maine state courts, the federal rules apply to cases in federal court, and the two sets of rules can differ in their specifics.