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PublishedNovember 25, 2024
Lawyers for Maine, ACLU file dueling motions to end public defense lawsuit
If Superior Justice Michaela Murphy decides the case still poses questions worthy of a jury's consideration, it could go to trial early next year.
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PublishedAugust 23, 2024
Lewiston attorney tapped to head up local indigent defense office
The move is aimed at providing enough lawyers to represent all criminal defendants who face jail time, but can't afford one.
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PublishedMay 13, 2024
Maine’s high court upholds order calling for trial over indigent defense crisis
Lawyers for the state had appealed a ruling from Superior Justice Michaela Murphy that ordered the ACLU and Maine's indigent defense agency to be ready for trial in June.
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PublishedMarch 21, 2024
Mills signs law to create 2 more public defenders offices
The new law will create offices to serve three rural counties that lack enough volunteer lawyers to represent people who can't afford counsel.
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PublishedMarch 15, 2024
State urges judge to not add governor, attorney general to indigent defense lawsuit
The ACLU of Maine's complaint takes aim at Gov. Janet Mills and Attorney General Aaron Frey for failing to provide constitutionally required attorneys to poor Mainers.
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PublishedFebruary 28, 2024
Judge again rejects settlement, orders trial for ACLU’s suit against Maine’s indigent defense system
Superior Justice Michaela Murphy said a proposed settlement failed to address the elephant in the room – the growing number of low-income criminal defendants in Maine who are waiting weeks and months, sometimes in jail, for court-appointed attorneys.
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PublishedFebruary 25, 2024
More than 100 Mainers are in jail awaiting lawyers. The fix remains elusive.
The state's failing to recruit enough attorneys, some say; others blame prosecutors for filing too many cases. Everyone agrees it's a crisis.
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PublishedFebruary 21, 2024
High court chief justice says Maine must invest in tech and staff to solve system’s backlog
Chief Justice Valerie Stanfill told lawmakers Wednesday that the courts need more staff and resources. And the courts can't pay for it without help.
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PublishedJanuary 17, 2024
Maine’s court-appointed lawyers are ‘saturated’ with criminal, parental caseloads
A year after lawmakers agreed to pay court-appointed lawyers more for their work, the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services says the attorneys are being overwhelmed by an ever-growing backlog of cases.
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PublishedDecember 15, 2023
Judge appears wary of settlement that state, ACLU say could help poor Mainers obtain legal representation
Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy again expressed doubt that a proposed settlement could help more poor Mainers access criminal defense lawyers.
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