Director warns of “imminent” crisis in being able to find lawyers for all people needing public defense.

Director warns of “imminent” crisis in being able to find lawyers for all people needing public defense.
Maine Republicans and Democrats discuss splitting $1.2 million price tag to hire five public defenders.
Suzanne Dwyer-Jones routinely defends indigent clients in court. The agency overseeing representation of the poor plans to suspend her.
Bob Cummins gives up his seat on the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services, contending state officials ‘don’t give a damn’ about reform.
Committee proposes a dispatchable unit of defense lawyers to work on cases in underserved rural courts.
Frustrated by a lack of progress, ‘last resort’ lawsuit alleges a state commission violates defendants’ constitutional rights.
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court issued the ruling against Christopher Whalley on Feb. 17.
Lawmakers returning to Augusta this month may recommend enacting a bill to open the state’s first trial-level public defender office.
State officials filed a civil lawsuit against Fairfield & Associates and managing attorney Amy Fairfield for bad billing practices.
Hard-fought reforms to Maine’s public defense system were enacted on July 15 without the signature of Gov. Janet Mills.
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