Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services
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PublishedFebruary 27, 2023
Increased pay has bolstered ranks of attorneys representing indigent clients
But the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services says that the pay increase needs to be extended beyond this summer and that more needs to be done to stabilize the program and meet the state’s constitutional obligations.
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PublishedJanuary 31, 2023
Former leader of Maine public defenders says job not what he expected
Seth Levy resigned after less than a month but said he is still optimistic about the role of a public defender's office in Maine.
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PublishedJanuary 25, 2023
Maine’s new lead public defender resigns
The Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services called an emergency meeting Wednesday to allow its executive director to temporarily fill the role left by Seth Levy.
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PublishedJanuary 21, 2023
Maine Voices: Increased state funding for indigent defense is a starting point
Maine needs an organized system by which public defenders are trained, supervised, evaluated and deployed.
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PublishedJanuary 17, 2023
New funding for Maine’s legal defense system for the poor not enough to solve problem, commission says
Gov. Janet Mills' plan to increase funding for the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services by $17 million pales in comparison to the agency's $62 million request.
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PublishedJanuary 13, 2023
Commentary: Bedrock constitutional principles trampled by Maine’s indigent defense crisis
Dozens of accused people, presumed innocent, are languishing in Maine jails without an appointed attorney. An immediate influx of funding is required.
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PublishedNovember 27, 2022
System to help poor defendants is worsening in rural Maine
Attorneys staffing the struggling indigent defense program say the solutions they're seeing can't keep up with the systemic problems.
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PublishedOctober 19, 2022
Commentary: As Maine’s indigent defense system crumbles, Mills stands idly by
The timing for a special session to appropriate $13 million for public defenders may not be ideal. That should not stop Gov. Mills from calling it.
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PublishedOctober 14, 2022
Our View: Mills, lawmakers have obligation to aid legal system for low-income Mainers
Maine’s governor seems hesitant to call a special session. She should reconsider.
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PublishedOctober 11, 2022
Gov. Mills hesitant to pursue emergency funds for indigent legal services, emails show
Gov. Janet Mills asks the agency in charge of providing legal defense to low-income Mainers if it has done enough to recruit attorneys to address an ongoing shortage.