4 min Lawmakers seek funding for Maine’s first public defenders Committee proposes a dispatchable unit of defense lawyers to work on cases in underserved rural courts. BySamantha HoganMarch 27, 2022
5 min ACLU sues Maine, says it provides ineffective defense counsel for people charged with crimes Frustrated by a lack of progress, 'last resort' lawsuit alleges a state commission violates defendants' constitutional rights. BySamantha HoganMarch 1, 2022
3 min License suspended after lawyer allegedly takes $189,000 from estate The Maine Supreme Judicial Court issued the ruling against Christopher Whalley on Feb. 17. BySamantha HoganFebruary 27, 2022
2 min Samantha Hogan: A year later, Maine still last state without public defenders Lawmakers returning to Augusta this month may recommend enacting a bill to open the state's first trial-level public defender office. BySamantha HoganJanuary 2, 2022
3 min Attorney general sues Maine lawyer for ‘negligent misrepresentation’ of billing State officials filed a civil lawsuit against Fairfield & Associates and managing attorney Amy Fairfield for bad billing practices. BySamantha HoganDecember 10, 2021
3 min Gov. Mills lets public defense changes become law Hard-fought reforms to Maine's public defense system were enacted on July 15 without the signature of Gov. Janet Mills. BySamantha HoganJuly 25, 2021
4 min Lawyer withdraws from nearly 200 cases after not complying with billing investigation In a scathing court motion, Amy Fairfield accused the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services of launching a "targeted campaign" against her law firm. BySamantha HoganJuly 11, 2021