The governor, the attorney general and other state leaders have been included in the amended complaint and have a week to object to being added as defendants in the lawsuit targeting the state’s indigent defense system.
ACLU of Maine
Federal judge rejects Bangor school’s request to scrap anti-discrimination law ahead of trial
Crosspoint Church accused Maine of discriminating against religious schools whose policies violate the state’s Human Rights Act. The state says giving them taxpayer dollars would allow discrimination against students.
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.
Caribou High School to use fingerprinting to track student attendance
The Maine Chapter of the Maine ACLU criticizes the Aroostook County school district’s decision on Tuesday, saying using biometrics to track students raises serious privacy concerns.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Judge rejects proposed deal for state indigent defense system – now what?
Attorneys for the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Serves and the ACLU of Maine will meet with Superior Justice Michaela Murphy on Friday.
Judge says settlement agreement for indigent defense system may not go far enough
Kennebec County Superior Justice Michaela Murphy still has to decide whether a proposed deal between the ACLU and MCILS will move forward.