The Supreme Court of Maine recently struck down a law that removed the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims. 

This is according to a new report from the Associated Press.

This is a big deal, as a retroactively struck down a law that state lawmakers approved back in 2021.

First, we will look at the background of the case, and then we will look at the latest action.

Background

Before going any further, one has to understand what a statute of limitations is. LegalDictionary.com defines it, simply, as "the time limit imposed by law in which a lawsuit or criminal can be filed."

The Maine law removed this limitation on claims for civil child sexual abuse lawsuits. The legislature did so in 2021, but the law would subsequently be challenged.

USA Today reports:

The ruling comes after dozens of people filed civil lawsuits against the Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland alleging they were sexually assaulted as children by the clergy, with allegations going back as far as the 1950s. Some accusers were able to sue after state legislators passed a law in 2021 that retroactively removed a statute of limitations that determines how much time can pass after a crime before a person is no longer allowed to file a lawsuit.

After the lawsuits were filed, the diocese then challenged them, arguing that the law was unconstitutional.

The case ended up making it all the way to Maine's Supreme Court.

The latest

The state supreme court, according to the Associate Press, has now agreed that the 2021 law is indeed unconstitutional.

The outlet reports:

The court, in a lengthy ruling, stated that once a statute of limitations has expired for a claim “a right to be free of that claim has vested, and the claim cannot be revived. That means the law ”is unconstitutional as applied to expired claims,” the court ruled. Two justices dissented.

It is not exactly clear whether or not this is the end of the matter. It would appear that it is, at least from a legal perspective.

USA, though, reports:

The Rev. James Ruggieri, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, said in a statement after the ruling that the diocese would continue to dedicate resources to examine claims of abuse ‒ regardless of when it reportedly happened ‒ and provide counseling and support services to survivors.

If true, then the alleged victims may be able to still get redress from the church.