Rep. Jeff Evangelos alleges in letter that Maine’s attorney general has blocked reforms as court system collapses.

Rep. Jeff Evangelos alleges in letter that Maine’s attorney general has blocked reforms as court system collapses.
Maine courts need 280 additional full-time defense lawyers to manage caseload of state’s poor, official says.
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.
Mills seeks to attract new lawyers and increase law firm participation. LePage would rather transition to county public defenders.
Donald F. Brown was sanctioned for misrepresentations to state and sexual relationship with a client.
Dispute centers on whether Maine provides effective legal representation to the state’s poor.
A planned letter will ask lawmakers for special session to raise lawyer pay to $150 an hour amid record attorney shortage.
Kennebec County memo shows investigator monitored calls a man made to his lawyer in April 2022.
Strip searches and face-to-face meetings among the policies also being reviewed by new legislative committee.
Gubernatorial candidates Janet Mills and Paul LePage chart different paths to improve indigent defense.
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