Around New England

Maine Governor, Chief Justice Testify For Making State Statutes Gender-Neutral

April 25, 2019

The governor and chief justice of Maine testified before a legislative committee to change what The Bangor Daily News calls in a news story lede “outdated masculine statutory references” to make them gender-neutral.

“To me, this legislation is about every Maine woman and girl knowing that she is equally deserving of the same opportunities and equally capable of serving as governor … or as chief or associate justice,” said Janet Mills, the Democratic governor of Maine, before the state legislature’s Judiciary Committee on Thursday, April 25, according to the Bangor Daily News.

Leigh Saufley, a woman who is chief justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, also testified in favor of the bill.