Maine courts need 280 additional full-time defense lawyers to manage caseload of state’s poor, official says.
Crime & Justice
Too many cases. Too few lawyers. Maine courts stretch to find available defense attorneys
The state’s chief judge for superior courts says courts are unable to find a defense lawyer with “disturbing frequency” for the state’s poor.
Gubernatorial candidates Janet Mills and Paul LePage chart different paths for Maine public defense
Mills seeks to attract new lawyers and increase law firm participation. LePage would rather transition to county public defenders.
Brewer lawyer suspended but can keep working
Donald F. Brown was sanctioned for misrepresentations to state and sexual relationship with a client.
Attorney General and ACLU agree to settlement talks in indigent legal services case
Dispute centers on whether Maine provides effective legal representation to the state’s poor.
Commissioners to ask Gov. Mills and legislative leaders to approve emergency funding of $13.3 million
A planned letter will ask lawmakers for special session to raise lawyer pay to $150 an hour amid record attorney shortage.
Maine prosecutors drop indictment amid allegations investigator ‘monitored’ attorney calls
Kennebec County memo shows investigator monitored calls a man made to his lawyer in April 2022.
Study group to scrutinize jail, prison policies amid reports calls to lawyers were recorded
Strip searches and face-to-face meetings among the policies also being reviewed by new legislative committee.
Half of Maine indigent cases are being defended by just 33 lawyers, analysis finds
Gubernatorial candidates Janet Mills and Paul LePage chart different paths to improve indigent defense.
Maine reaches ‘point of failure,’ seeks $62.1 million for indigent public defense
Lawmakers are asked to double state spending on poor, criminal defendants.
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