--- title: "John Rich III | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-rich-iii-9306" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # John Rich III U.S. District Court for the District of Maine · Magistrate ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Maine - State: Maine - Role: Magistrate - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - The collected biographical information identifies John H. Rich III held the role of a District of Maine US magistrate judge in2008–2022 - John H. Rich III held the role of a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Maine from April 8, 2008, until his retirement on April 1, 2022, after 14 years on the bench - Before joining the federal judiciary, he was a law clerk to U.S. District Judge Edward T. Gignoux and practiced law for 25 years at the Portland firm of Perkins Thompson District of Maine ### Education - A.B. degree from Bowdoin College in 1978 and his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1982. ### Additional information - Magistrate, District Court, D. Maine, 2008-present - His professional roles included American Law Institute and Gignoux Inn of Court membership, Maine Justice Action Group vice-chair and pro-bono committee cochair, Federal Courts Law Review articles editor, local-rules committee liaison and work on the2020 federal judiciary strategic plan. - Rich was selected as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in April 2008. - Born in Bronxville, New York in1956, he obtained a Bowdoin AB in1978 and University of Pennsylvania JD in1982. - John H. Rich III was born in 1956 in Bronxville, New York. - Chief Justice Roberts appointed him to the Judicial Conference Committee on Administration of the Magistrate Judges System. - He clerked for federal Judge Edward Gignoux and practiced at Perkins Thompson in Portland before judicial service. - Member of the U.S. Judicial Conference Committee on the Administration of the Magistrate Judges System, appointed by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr - Vice-Chair of the Maine Justice Action Group (JAG) and co-chair of its Pro Bono Committee - The biography describes twenty-five years at the firm. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### cameras audio recording Scope: statewide Maine Administrative Order JB-05-15 bars cameras and audio recording equipment in the courtroom unless coverage has been authorized under the order. Evidence excerpt: No cameras or audio recording equipment shall be allowed in the courtroom unless coverage of any events or proceeding has been authorized pursuant to this order. [JB-05-15 Cameras and Audio Recording in the Courts](https://www.courts.maine.gov/adminorders/jb-05-15.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### judicial discretion Scope: statewide Maine authorizes trial and appellate judicial officers to consider camera and recording coverage and permit it in their sole discretion if court integrity will not be adversely affected. Evidence excerpt: authorized to consider camera and recording coverage, and to permit it in their sole discretion if the integrity of the court proceedings will not be adversely affected. [JB-05-15 Cameras and Audio Recording in the Courts](https://www.courts.maine.gov/adminorders/jb-05-15.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9306/john-rich-iii/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9306/john-rich-iii/) - [U.S. District Court for the District of Maine current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9306/john-rich-iii/) - [JB-05-15 Cameras and Audio Recording in the Courts](https://www.courts.maine.gov/adminorders/jb-05-15.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9306/john-rich-iii/) - [John Rich - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Rich) - [Official District of Maine retirement notice and official magistrate history both state retirement/service end on 2022-04-01.](https://www.med.uscourts.gov/magistrate-judges) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9306/john-rich-iii/) - [John Rich - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Rich) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-rich-iii-9306", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-rich-iii-9306", "name": "John Rich III | KnowJudges", "description": "John Rich III, U.S. District Court for the District of Maine. 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