Alyssa Mendez was left off a statewide list of people in need of lawyers and was not appointed one until more than 40 days after her first court appearance.
Maine Commission on Public Defense Services
Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime
Maine’s highest court considering whether state can be defendant in public defense lawsuit
The ACLU of Maine is trying to include the entire state in its lawsuit, not just its public defense leaders. The attorney general’s office says the state is immune.
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Posted inLocal & State, News
Judges in Lewiston, Bangor assign public defenders without approval from agency
Two district judges have appointed the attorneys without getting approval from the quasi-state agency that oversees them.
Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime, News
Maine public defense agency announces new director
Frayla Tarpinian is being promoted after leading the state’s first brick-and-mortar public defense office in Augusta for 2 years.
Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime, News
Maine’s high court to decide whether to release defendants, dismiss charges due to public defense crisis
Maine has to provide attorneys to criminal defendants who can’t afford their own representation. In hundreds of cases, defendants are still waiting.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Director of Maine agency for indigent legal defense steps down
Jim Billings is the second director in as many years to step down, following the resignation of Justin W. Andrus in 2023.
Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime
With Maine judge set to release inmates waiting for lawyers, state high court halts hearings – for now
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court halted habeas corpus hearings so it can consider an appeal from the state over the backlog of defendants waiting for public defenders.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Maine public defense agency fears it will run out of money with new budget
The Maine Commission on Public Defense Services was given roughly $51 million yearly in the state’s two-year $11.3 billion budget.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Maine judge won’t wait to start releasing people stuck in jail without a lawyer
Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy ruled the state of Maine was at fault for unconstitutionally leaving poor defendants without court-appointed attorneys.
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.