Opinion of the Justices

*223ANSWER OF THE JUSTICES

To the Honorable Senate of the State of Maine:

In compliance with the provisions of Article VI, section 3 of the Constitution of Maine, we, the undersigned Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court, respectfully submit the following reply to the questions propounded to us by the Honorable Senate on January 3, 1979, which were received by us on January 3, 1979.

The Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine have historically shown a conscientious desire to answer questions propounded to them by the executive or legislative departments of government pursuant to Article VI,…