Jim Billings, the executive director of the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services, formerly known as the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services, will step down in October to pursue private practice. Deputy Executive Director Eleanor Maciag announced Billings’ decision to step down in an email to the agency’s counsel on Thursday evening.

“I am very sad to see Jim go, but also extremely proud of what he and the PDS team have accomplished during his tenure,” Maciag wrote.

Billings joined the agency as executive director in 2023. He is the second director in as many years to step down, following the resignation of former director Justin W. Andrus in 2023.

The official job posting for the position was listed on Friday. According to the job description, the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services is an independent commission that provides high-quality representation to indigent citizens who are entitled to counsel at state expense under the U.S. Constitution.

In her email, Maciag said she “looks forward” to working with the new executive director to “build on Jim’s great work” and tackle the “very serious challenge” the agency is facing with an impending budget shortfall.

Billings could not be reached for comment Saturday morning. His last official day will be Oct. 10.