After being found in contempt of court earlier this month, Hancock County’s elected probate judge has resolved the matter by paying the overdue child support that he owed his ex-wife.
William B. Blaisdell IV, who has served as Hancock County’s part-time probate judge since 2014, was found in contempt of court in Waldo County on March 8 for missing court dates and ignoring judicial orders.
Judge Patricia Worth gave Blaisdell until March 25 to come up with more than $43,000 in overdue child support plus an additional $6,000 to cover his wife’s legal costs — for a total of nearly $50,000 — or face 90 days in jail.
Jeff Toothaker, an Ellsworth attorney representing Blaisdell, said that he paid the overdue balance on Wednesday. A representative of Blaisdell’s ex-wife also confirmed that she had been paid the full amount.
By paying those overdue funds before March 25, Blaisdell will not have to spend time in jail, Toothaker said.
“She’s been paid in full,” Toothaker said. “I delivered all the checks personally.”
Blaisdell, 54, was hospitalized on March 9, the day after being found in contempt of court, but has since resumed his duties as probate judge, Toothaker said. County officials also said that Blaisdell has returned to work in his elected position since receiving medical treatment.
The nature of Blaisdell’s health issues have not been disclosed.
“He’s doing well,” Toothaker said.
Blaisdell, who divorced his ex-wife in 2019, has spent the past decade as Hancock County’s probate judge, a role that oversees matters such as adoption, guardianship, inheritance and name changes.
After first being elected to the post in 2014, he narrowly won re-election in 2018 and then was re-elected without opposition in 2022. He faces re-election in 2026.
Despite having paid the overdue child support and avoided jail time, it was unclear whether Blaisdell might face other discipline. Toothaker said he has not been contacted by any agency that oversees the conduct of lawyers or judges in Maine.
Blaisdell, who also works as a private practice attorney, could face scrutiny from the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar, which oversees the conduct of licensed attorneys. He also could face an inquiry by the state Committee on Judicial Conduct, which investigates grievances against judges and magistrates.
Less likely options would be impeachment by the Legislature or “removal by address,” in which lawmakers vote on whether to remove a person from civil office after an address by the governor.
In her March 8 order, Judge Worth said she had been “astonished” to hear Blaisdell testify at an earlier hearing that he had not filed federal or state income tax returns for 2022, 2021, 2020 “and possibly for 2019.”
Toothaker said Blaisdell is working to file his overdue tax returns.
