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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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PublishedNovember 28, 2023
State, ACLU say new settlement on indigent legal representation offers more immediate relief
The proposal lays out a four-year plan for more oversight and data collection, but it's not clear that it contains the emergency relief for deprived defendants sought by the Maine judge who must approve the deal.
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PublishedNovember 27, 2023
Maine soon could reach another settlement on legal defense for its poorest residents
A judge rejected the first attempt at a deal between the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services and the ACLU of Maine.
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PublishedNovember 2, 2023
Supreme Judicial Court justice allows indigent defense petition to proceed
Justice Wayne Douglas has scheduled a hearing for Nov. 14 to consider whether 3 Aroostook County men who don't have court-appointed attorneys are being held illegally.
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PublishedOctober 16, 2023
Attorneys identify 4 more people without court-appointed counsel in statewide petition for release
Attorneys debated Monday whether the petition before Maine's Supreme Judicial Court, which calls on the state to identify everyone in jail without a lawyer, was filed appropriately.
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PublishedOctober 12, 2023
Judiciary asks Maine’s high court to dismiss petition to release unrepresented defendants
Supreme Judicial Court Justice Wayne Douglas will meet Monday with attorneys to discuss the petition to identify and release from county jails low-income people who are being held pretrial without an attorney.
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PublishedOctober 11, 2023
Agency submits $8.9 million proposal to create public defender offices across state
The Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services is not asking to fund the offices all at once, but wants state leaders to commit to the proposal.
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PublishedSeptember 29, 2023
ACLU, Maine officials resume negotiations to improve legal services for poor clients
During a 15-minute hearing in Kennebec County Superior Court, Justice Micheala Murphy granted a request for negotiating assistance and asked the parties to update the court 30 days after their initial meeting.
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PublishedSeptember 20, 2023
Lawyers seek release for woman jailed nearly 3 months without representation
Two attorneys, concerned about Maine’s legal defense system for the poor, are urging the state's highest court to release a woman they say has been jailed for more than 80 days without a court-appointed attorney – as well as anyone “similarly situated.”
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PublishedSeptember 15, 2023
Settlement talks expected to continue in lawsuit over state’s indigent defense system
After Justice Michaela Murphy rejected a proposed deal this week, the ACLU says it will continue working on a settlement, but is prepared to go to trial.
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