Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy ruled the state of Maine was at fault for unconstitutionally leaving poor defendants without court-appointed attorneys.
Emily Allen
Staff Writer
Emily Allen covers courts for the Portland Press Herald. It's her favorite beat so far — before moving to Maine in 2022, she reported on a wide range of topics for public radio in West Virginia and was the City Hall reporter for the Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota. Emily is not a fan of the cold, but she puts up with Maine's challenging winters because she loves the state's beautiful hiking options ... once the snow has cleared.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Could Maine finally create a statewide system for tracking rape kits?
A proposal died when the Legislature ran out of time last year. While there’s more support for the effort this year, lawmakers wonder if they will have the funding.
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Posted inLocal & State, News
Maine housing advocates warn of coming ‘tsunami’ of USDA foreclosures on rural homes
The Department of Agriculture says it’s clearing a backlog of 400 foreclosures and more than 800 delinquencies left by the Biden administration. But local housing advocates say the crisis was years in the making and that the USDA has always been slow to act when its borrowers default.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Brewer doctor could face suspension after mom says he ignored shaken baby concerns
Dr. Albert Adams has denied the mother’s claims and the state medical board has agreed to delay his suspension pending further review.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Buxton widow awarded $1.3 million from Togus VA hospital for husband’s death
Roy Palmer, a U.S. Army veteran, died in 2020 after doctors gave him too much pain medication for stomach pain, leading to an overdose and respiratory cardiac arrest.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Maine’s public defense system gets $3.5M boost, without governor’s support
The emergency bill makes it easier for judges to appoint lawyers for people who can’t afford one themselves, and it authorizes the state to hire 5 new public defenders.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Too many Mainers are going through ‘life-changing’ civil cases without attorneys, legal aid providers say
Seven legal organizations who help Mainers with urgent civil legal matters are asking lawmakers to pass a $15.9 million 2-year emergency bill.
Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime, News
New Maine law would require protection order defendants to keep certain distance from victims
The new law, which will take effect 90 days after adjournment, will expand what protections Maine judges can offer victims of domestic violence and stalking.
Posted inLocal & State
Maine’s $1B lottery winner will have to reveal his identity if privacy case goes to trial
A U.S. district judge denied the man’s request for a closed trial over a lawsuit he filed against his ex-girlfriend for allegedly violating a nondisclosure agreement about his winnings.
Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime, News, Schools and Education
Maine’s only law school asks state for $1 million to reopen criminal law clinic
The University of Maine School of Law is trying to reestablish a criminal justice legal clinic for student attorneys, but funding it could be a roadblock in a tight budget year.