Chief Justice Valerie Stanfill’s annual State of the Judiciary address focused on decreasing public trust in state courts and the system’s financial woes.
Maine Commission on Public Defense Services
Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime, News, Politics
Prosecutors say it’s not just public defense agencies that are struggling to hire over low pay
A bill proposed by Sen. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, would seek to ensure parity with public defenders because some say prosecutors are struggling to recruit and retain attorneys.
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Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime, News, Politics
Some of Maine’s bail violation charges could be eliminated by proposed bill
Maine is one of a handful of states that treat bail violation as a new criminal charge, even when the alleged misconduct isn’t inherently criminal.
Posted inLocal & State
Gov. Mills doubles down on urging Maine’s public defense agency to relax rules
The Maine Commission on Public Defense Services says it needs more money than what the governor has offered to address a ‘constitutional crisis’ in Maine courts. Mills says the agency needs to change its rules first.
Posted inLocal & State
A Maine judge might release people without lawyers from jail
Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy has questioned whether Maine’s public defense agency has done enough to ensure people have lawyers in the first place.
Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime, News
ACLU says lack of public defense lawyers in Maine erodes trust in courts
The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine was in court Wednesday to argue for the widespread release of low-income Mainers who face criminal charges but have not been appointed lawyers.
Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime, News
What you need to know about the lawsuit over Maine’s public defense system
A superior court justice will hear arguments this week about what the state can do to meet its constitutional obligation to provide attorneys for people who can’t afford their own.
Posted inLocal & State
Maine public defense agency urges state to fully fund its work
The latest request for more funding comes as the state is trying to resolve a lawsuit over its struggles to find enough lawyers to represent poor Mainers in more than a thousand different cases.
Posted inLocal & State
Judge’s ruling acknowledges that hundreds of Mainers’ rights are being denied
The state could be on a path to a widespread reform after a Superior Court justice ruled that many people facing serious criminal charges haven’t received the court-appointed lawyer they are entitled to under the Constitution.
Posted inLocal & State
Public attorneys could soon represent Maine parents in child protection cases
The new Parents Counsel Division launches as Maine’s child protective system is in crisis.