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Darcie N. McElwee

Justice of the Maine Superior Court. Former U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine.

Facts last checked October 14, 2026.

In brief

Darcie N. McElwee served as the United States Attorney for the District of Maine from 2021 until the Trump administration terminated her in February 2025. She had previously spent roughly two decades as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Maine. Shortly after leaving the federal post, Gov. Janet Mills nominated her to the Maine Superior Court, and she was sworn in as a Superior Court justice on March 28, 2025. Her career places her squarely within the senior leadership of Maine's federal prosecution system during the period examined by this site.

What her termination does and does not mean

Removing presidentially appointed U.S. Attorneys when the administration changes is not unusual. McElwee's termination, standing alone, is not evidence of professional misconduct, dishonesty, malicious prosecution, or wrongdoing. Any criticism of her on this site will be tied to a court filing, judicial opinion, DOJ record, transcript, disciplinary record, or reliable contemporaneous reporting.

The public record

  1. From 2002

    Public record

    Prior federal service

    Before becoming U.S. Attorney, McElwee served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Maine and handled violent-crime, sex-trafficking, firearms, arson, and related federal prosecutions.

    Sources

  2. Aug. 10, 2021

    Public record

    Nominated as U.S. Attorney

    President Joseph R. Biden Jr. nominated McElwee to be U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine.

    Sources

  3. Oct. 5, 2021

    Public record

    Confirmed by the U.S. Senate

    The U.S. Senate confirmed her. She was sworn in as U.S. Attorney on October 8, 2021.

    Sources

  4. Feb. 2025

    Public record

    Departed the U.S. Attorney's Office

    The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maine announced that she departed after termination by the new administration. Maine news organizations reported that the Trump administration terminated her.

    Sources

  5. Feb. 28, 2025

    Public record

    Nominated to the Maine Superior Court

    Gov. Janet Mills nominated McElwee to the Maine Superior Court.

  6. Mar. 28, 2025

    Public record

    Sworn in as a Superior Court Justice

    McElwee was sworn in as a Justice of the Maine Superior Court.

In the news

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