Maine’s step forward in public defense comes as the state is already struggling to find attorneys to represent roughly 580 defendants, almost a quarter of whom are in jail.
Emily Allen
Staff Writer
Emily Allen covers courts for the Portland Press Herald. It's her favorite beat so far — before moving to Maine in 2022, she reported on a wide range of topics for public radio in West Virginia and was the City Hall reporter for the Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota. Emily is not a fan of the cold, but she puts up with Maine's challenging winters because she loves the state's beautiful hiking options ... once the snow has cleared.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Pro-Palestine demonstrators plead not guilty to charges from February protest
Some of the 11 defendants said the group rejected a deal with prosecutors that would’ve dismissed their cases after 30 hours of community service.
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Posted inLocal & State
Wanted for arrest: One mysterious sunken vessel off the coast of Maine
A Maine company is asking a U.S. District Court judge to ‘arrest’ a boat it found near Southwest Harbor so it can salvage the wreckage.
Posted inLocal & State
Judge struggles to untangle Popham Beach land dispute
The Tappens claim they own the rights to beachfront land, having bought a deed to it in 2021. The Hills say the deed is worthless because the land was intended for all neighbors to access, and are asking the judge to declare the parcel a ‘common area.’
Posted inLocal & State, Schools and Education
Former York special education teacher settles discrimination lawsuit against district
Michele Figueira had sued the York School Department last summer, alleging officials created a hostile work environment in which she was discriminated against for being gay. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
Posted inLocal & State
State urges judge to not add governor, attorney general to indigent defense lawsuit
The ACLU of Maine’s complaint takes aim at Gov. Janet Mills and Attorney General Aaron Frey for failing to provide constitutionally required attorneys to poor Mainers.
Posted inLocal & State
Portland shooting victim’s family, friends gather on his birthday to say goodbye to ‘a part of us’
Raoul Tshiyuka was shot March 2 on St. John Street in Portland. Police have made an arrest but have released few details about what happened.
Posted inCops & Courts, Local & State
Massachusetts man pleads guilty to killing domestic partner at York beach
Jury selection was expected to begin Wednesday for the murder trial against Jeffrey Buchannan. Instead, he admitted to killing his girlfriend, Rhonda Pattelena, in 2021.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Local & State, News
Stonehedge, a popular music venue in Gray, burns down
Firefighters arrived in time to save owner Russell Jeffords’ house, but he lost the barn that hosted weddings and concerts, as well as the instruments and sound equipment stored in it.
Posted inLocal & State, News
ACLU’s updated lawsuit challenges legality of holding unrepresented, jailed Mainers
The governor, the attorney general and other state leaders have been included in the amended complaint and have a week to object to being added as defendants in the lawsuit targeting the state’s indigent defense system.