Maine has to provide attorneys to criminal defendants who can’t afford their own representation. In hundreds of cases, defendants are still waiting.
Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services
Posted inLocal & State, News
Director of Maine agency for indigent legal defense steps down
Jim Billings is the second director in as many years to step down, following the resignation of Justin W. Andrus in 2023.
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Posted inCops & Courts, Local & State
Lawyers for Maine, ACLU file dueling motions to end public defense lawsuit
If Superior Justice Michaela Murphy decides the case still poses questions worthy of a jury’s consideration, it could go to trial early next year.
Posted inBusiness, Cops & Courts, Local & State, News
The Maine Supreme Court asked large law firms to help with the public defender crisis. For the most part, they haven’t.
But criminal defense attorneys warn that their work is specialized, and not just any lawyer can step in and provide quality legal representation that ensures the rights of the accused are protected.
Posted inTimes Record Opinion
The Maine Idea: Leadership, not recriminations, will mend public defense crisis
On June 7, Leein Hinkley, 43, appeared in Maine District Court in Auburn on domestic violence assault charges for the third time. Once again, there was no lawyer available under the state’s indigent defense system, and Judge Sarah Churchill reduced his bail to $1,500 cash, which was paid and Hinkley released. Ten days later, on […]
Posted inLocal & State
Maine’s high court upholds order calling for trial over indigent defense crisis
Lawyers for the state had appealed a ruling from Superior Justice Michaela Murphy that ordered the ACLU and Maine’s indigent defense agency to be ready for trial in June.
Posted inLocal & State
Mills signs law to create 2 more public defenders offices
The new law will create offices to serve three rural counties that lack enough volunteer lawyers to represent people who can’t afford counsel.
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
Judge again rejects settlement, orders trial for ACLU’s suit against Maine’s indigent defense system
Superior Justice Michaela Murphy said a proposed settlement failed to address the elephant in the room – the growing number of low-income criminal defendants in Maine who are waiting weeks and months, sometimes in jail, for court-appointed attorneys.
Posted inCops & Courts, Local & State
More than 100 Mainers are in jail awaiting lawyers. The fix remains elusive.
The state’s failing to recruit enough attorneys, some say; others blame prosecutors for filing too many cases. Everyone agrees it’s a crisis.