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Maine begins search for new public defense director, approves rule changes
After a decade at the helm, John Pelletier will step away from his role as executive director of the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services on Dec. 11. There will be a national search to find his replacement while the commission presses forward with a major overhaul to its rules and qualifications for attorneys.
Chasing Maine: The Quarantine
As the coronavirus pandemic relentlessly continues, producer Roger McCord documents his experience with a 14-day quarantine mandate — and one version of how to deal with isolation.
Public Health Notebook: With 40 new outbreaks in the past week, Maine’s COVID metrics surge past previous peaks
Despite the rising number of cases, the state’s seven-day positivity rate remains among the lowest in the country.
Maine governor won’t fund defense reforms without accountability
Maine’s defense agency lacks the oversight structures and staffing to provide “high-quality representation” to the state’s poorest defendants. Maine’s democratic governor says more money won’t fix accountability problems.
Ineffective financial oversight, missed obligations of Maine’s public defense agency detailed in new report
The Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services lacks established financial policies, a strong oversight structure and adequate staffing to meet its constitutional obligations to provide high-quality representation to criminal defendants who are too poor to afford an attorney, the state’s watchdog unit detailed in a report released on Monday.
Environmental Notebook: Organizations, citizen groups continue to fight CMP corridor project
In a week that saw a key permit awarded to the New England Clean Energy Connect project, environmental groups and citizen activists have again ramped up opposition efforts.
Following multiple investigations, director of Maine’s public defense agency resigns
Amid mounting criticism of his management of attorneys, finances and the quality of legal services for the poor in Maine, John Pelletier is stepping down as executive director of the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services. His last day will be Dec. 11.
Officials propose doubling budget for agency charged with defending the poor
Lawyers proposed opening Maine’s first two public defender offices and a substantial pay raise for court-appointed counsel in a $35.4 million budget approved by the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services.
How record sums of money have shaped Maine’s 2020 elections
The Maine Monitor investigated campaign finance trends in this year’s state and federal races. Here are our top findings.
Chasing Maine: The Astronomer
For astronomy instructor and northern Maine planetarium director Larry Berz, the study of space is an existential science. Recognizing our small role in the scheme of the universe is humbling and can evoke compassion in our daily lives.
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