# Daniel Wathen > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Daniel_Wathen > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Daniel_Wathen.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Wathen > Source revision: 1356203238 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American judge (born 1939)}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = | name = Daniel Wathen | image_size = | caption = | office = Chief Justice of the [Maine Supreme Judicial Court](/source/Maine_Supreme_Judicial_Court) | term_start = March 20, 1992 | term_end = October 4, 2001{{Cite web |url=https://legislature.maine.gov/lawlibrary/maine-supreme-court-chief-and-associate-justices/9284/ |title=Maine Supreme Court Chief and Associate Justices | Maine State Legislature |access-date=2019-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114170546/https://legislature.maine.gov/lawlibrary/maine-supreme-court-chief-and-associate-justices/9284/ |archive-date=2019-11-14 |url-status=live }} | appointer = [John R. McKernan Jr.](/source/John_R._McKernan_Jr.) | predecessor = Vincent L. McKusick | successor = [Leigh I. Saufley](/source/Leigh_Saufley) | office1 = Associate Justice of the [Maine Supreme Judicial Court](/source/Maine_Supreme_Judicial_Court) | term_start1 = August 31, 1981 | term_end1 = March 20, 1992 | predecessor1 = | successor1 = | appointer1 = [Joseph E. Brennan](/source/Joseph_E._Brennan) | office2 = Justice of the [Maine Superior Court](/source/Maine_Superior_Court) | term_start2 = September 16, 1977 | term_end2 = August 31, 1981{{Cite web |url=http://cleaves.org/sjcbios1.htm |title=Cleaves Law Library [SJCBios] |access-date=2019-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114172056/http://cleaves.org/sjcbios1.htm |archive-date=2019-11-14 |url-status=live }} | appointer2 = [James B. Longley](/source/James_B._Longley) | office3 = | term_start3 = | term_end3 = | birth_name = Daniel Everett Wathen{{Cite web |url=https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1101&context=commencement |title=University of Maine Commencement (Class of 1965) |access-date=2019-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114181135/https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1101&context=commencement |archive-date=2019-11-14 |url-status=live }} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1939|11|04}} | birth_place = [Easton, Maine](/source/Easton%2C_Maine), U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | education = [Ricker College](/source/Ricker_College) (AB)
[University of Maine](/source/University_of_Maine_School_of_Law) (JD)
[University of Virginia](/source/University_of_Virginia_School_of_Law) (LLM) | alma_mater = | spouse = Judith C. Foren{{Cite web |url=https://bangordailynews.com/2009/05/27/obituaries/james-a-foren/ |title=James A. Foren |date=27 May 2009 |access-date=2019-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114175021/https://bangordailynews.com/2009/05/27/obituaries/james-a-foren/ |archive-date=2019-11-14 |url-status=live }}Easton High School, Maine (Class of 1957) Yearbook | profession = | party = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) }} '''Daniel Everett "Dan" Wathen''' (born November 4, 1939, in [Easton, Maine](/source/Easton%2C_Maine)){{Cite web |date=2019-09-28 |title="Interview with Dan Wathen by Andrea L'Hommedieu" by Daniel 'Dan' E. Wathen |url=https://digitalcommons.bowdoin.edu/mitchelloralhistory/9/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928172040/https://digitalcommons.bowdoin.edu/mitchelloralhistory/9/ |archive-date=28 September 2019 }} is an American lawyer and politician from [Maine](/source/Maine). He was [Chief Justice](/source/Chief_justice) of the [Maine Supreme Judicial Court](/source/Maine_Supreme_Judicial_Court) from March 1992 until October 2001, when he resigned to [run](/source/2002_Maine_gubernatorial_election) for [Governor of Maine](/source/Governor_of_Maine) as a [Republican](/source/Maine_Republican_Party). He was replaced as chief justice by [Leigh Saufley](/source/Leigh_Saufley). At the time of his gubernatorial campaign announcement, many pollsters and academics did not believe Wathen would factor into the [2002 gubernatorial election](/source/Maine_gubernatorial_election%2C_2002). He ultimately dropped out of the race the next month.{{Cite news |date=November 27, 2001 |title=Wathen confirms end of gubernatorial run |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0NZKAAAAIBAJ&dq=republican+daniel+wathen&pg=PA2&article_id=2564,4493986 |access-date=April 17, 2025 |work=[Lewiston Sun Journal](/source/Lewiston_Sun_Journal)}} Wathen is a native of [Easton](/source/Easton%2C_Maine) in [Aroostook County, Maine](/source/Aroostook_County%2C_Maine).{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fqRJAAAAIBAJ&pg=2094,753854&dq=republican+daniel+wathen&hl=en|title=Chief Justice Wathen Resigns to Run for Governor|last=Higgins|first=A. J.|date=October 4, 2001|work=[Bangor Daily News](/source/Bangor_Daily_News)|accessdate=28 December 2011}} He graduated from [Ricker College](/source/Ricker_College) in [Houlton](/source/Houlton%2C_Maine) and earned his [Juris Doctor](/source/Juris_Doctor) degree from the [University of Maine School of Law](/source/University_of_Maine_School_of_Law). He also holds a [Master of Laws](/source/Master_of_Laws) degree from the [University of Virginia School of Law](/source/University_of_Virginia_School_of_Law). As of 2010, Wathen oversaw court-ordered improvements in mental health services. Wathen testified before the Health and Human Services committee of the [Maine legislature](/source/Maine_legislature) that cuts to mental health services would be "illusory" and the proposed cuts would be spent elsewhere, such as in prison services for mentally ill people. Attorney General [Janet Mills](/source/Janet_Mills) defended Governor [John Baldacci](/source/John_Baldacci)'s plan to cut mental health services.{{cite news|url=http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineNews/tabid/181/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3483/ItemId/10695/Default.aspx|title=Wathen Says Mental Health Cuts Won't Work|date=January 22, 2010|work=[MPBN](/source/Maine_Public_Broadcasting_Network)|accessdate=28 December 2011|archive-date=27 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927082239/http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineNews/tabid/181/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3483/ItemId/10695/Default.aspx|url-status=dead}} As of 2011, Wathen was the board chairman of the [Maine Turnpike Authority](/source/Maine_Turnpike_Authority).{{cite news|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2011/12/15/news/state/fired-maine-turnpike-authority-director-reaches-settlement-to-repay-430000/|title=Former Maine Turnpike Authority director reaches settlement to repay $430,000 — Maine Politics — Bangor Daily News|last=Russell|first=Eric|date=December 15, 2011|work=[Bangor Daily News](/source/Bangor_Daily_News)|accessdate=28 December 2011}} Since 2002, he has served as [Of Counsel](/source/Of_Counsel) for [Pierce Atwood LLP](/source/Pierce_Atwood_LLP), a law firm which has an office based in [Augusta, Maine](/source/Augusta%2C_Maine).[https://web.archive.org/web/20191114153111/https://www.pierceatwood.com/people/daniel-wathen Pierce Atwood LLP profile] In April 2013, Governor [Paul R. LePage](/source/Paul_R._LePage) nominated him to serve as co-chair of the Maine Unemployment Investigation Commission.{{Cite web|url=https://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=Gov+News&id=519648&v=article2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191114153825/https://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=Gov+News&id=519648&v=article2011|archive-date = 2019-11-14|title = Governor Announces Co-Chairs for Blue Ribbon Commission}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pierceatwood.com/update/governor-lepage-names-daniel-wathen-co-chair-unemployment-investigation-commission|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191114153917/https://www.pierceatwood.com/update/governor-lepage-names-daniel-wathen-co-chair-unemployment-investigation-commission|archive-date = 2019-11-14|title = Governor LePage Names Daniel Wathen as Co-Chair of Unemployment Investigation Commission | Pierce Atwood}} Following a [mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine](/source/2023_Lewiston_shootings), in 2023, committed by a mentally disturbed [Army reservist](/source/United_States_Army_Reserve), Governor [Janet Mills](/source/Janet_Mills) appointed Wathen to chair a seven-member independent commission to investigate the tragedy. The commission concluded that both police and the Army Reserve missed opportunities to prevent the shooting.[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lewiston-maine-mass-shootings-robert-card-army-police-could-have-intervened-final-report/ Army and police missed opportunities to potentially stop Maine mass shooter, report says], CBS News (August 20, 2024). == See also == * ''[Swanson v. Roman Catholic Bishop](/source/Swanson_v._Roman_Catholic_Bishop)'' – majority opinion written by Wathen ==References== {{reflist}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Wathen, Daniel}} Category:1939 births Category:Living people Category:People from Aroostook County, Maine Category:Maine lawyers Category:Ricker College alumni Category:University of Maine School of Law alumni Category:Chief justices of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court Category:Justices of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court Category:University of Virginia School of Law alumni Category:Justices of the Maine Superior Court Category:People associated with Pierce Atwood --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Daniel Wathen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Wathen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Wathen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.