When a Records Request Is Denied
1 M.R.S. § 409 — a written denial within 5 working days, and 30 calendar days to appeal
An agency that refuses a request gives written notice of the denial within 5 working days of receiving it, with the reason and a citation to the law it relies on.
Who handles this in Maine: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Maine directory.
Thirty days to the Superior Court. A person denied may appeal within 30 calendar days of receiving the written denial, to the Superior Court for the county where the person lives or the agency has its main office. The agency files its position within 14 calendar days of service, and the court orders disclosure if the denial was not for just and proper cause.
Attorney's fees may be awarded to a substantially prevailing requester when the denial was in bad faith. A willful violation by an officer or employee is a civil violation, with a fine on the agency of up to $500, rising for repeats within 4 years.
Sources for this section (3)
- 1 M.R.S. § 408-A — Public records available for inspection and copying
- 1 M.R.S. § 409 — Appeals
- 1 M.R.S. § 410 — Violations
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maine attorney.