The Legislature’s Judiciary Committee discusses two bills on the doctrine that shields police and other public employees from frivolous lawsuits but has come under new scrutiny since the murder of George Floyd.
Megan Gray
Staff Writer
Megan Gray is an arts and culture reporter at the Portland Press Herald. A Midwest native, she moved to Maine in 2016. She has written about presidential politics and local government, jury trials and jails. Her current beat is her favorite yet, and she loves the stories that take her to behind the scenes to an artist studio or theater backstage. Outside of work, she likes to explore Maine’s hiking trails and coastal islands with her husband, and she definitely wants to pet your dog.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News, Politics
Bills that would ease Maine drug possession laws move forward without consensus
One would make possession of various illegal drugs a civil violation rather than a criminal offense.
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Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime, News
Plea negotiations have begun for Maine man charged in Capitol riot
Kyle Fitzsimons of Lebanon, who has been assigned a new public defender, is the only Maine resident charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riot.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Schools and Education
UMaine System settles lawsuit over handling of sexual misconduct allegations
A student accused of sexual misconduct sued the university system, arguing he was discriminated against because of his gender.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Nominee to be Maine’s chief justice has earned trust in legal community
Superior Court Justice Valerie Stanfill, a judge in Maine since 2007, could become chief justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court at a critical time.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Lawmakers consider setting a closure date for youth prison
Advocates spoke in favor of legislation calling for the closure of the Long Creek Youth Development Center.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Veteran judge nominated to be chief justice of Maine’s high court
Valerie Stanfill has most recently served as a Superior Court justice for Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin counties.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State
Maine abandons fight for law to require à la carte cable TV service
In February, a federal appeals court sided with the cable companies, which had argued that Maine’s law was unconstitutional.
Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime, News
Kennebec County settles excessive force lawsuit against jail guard
The county’s insurer paid $30,000 to settle the complaint by an inmate who was pepper-sprayed in 2019.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Mills administration officials oppose bill to decriminalize drug possession
But people in recovery, medical providers, faith groups, legislators and advocates overwhelmingly support the proposal to make drug possession only a civil violation.