 On 24 October 1862, a little more than a decade after first being called to the bench and in the wake of his national recognition in legal reform, Appleton was appointed to serve as the Chief Justice of Maine by Governor Israel Washburn.In 1864, while Appleton was Chief Justice, the court ruled that judges were prohibited from commenting on the failure of a defendant to testify under their right to silence.In 1875, the legislature asked Appleton to arrange an updated and streamlined constitution.