Watchdog report says Maine’s legal defense program for the poor lacks oversight, organization
The Legislature s accountability office released the first part of its report on Maine s program Monday.
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A state watchdog agency has concluded that Maine’s system for providing legal services to the poor has little organizational structure, lacks oversight and does not have established policies for attorney billing.
The Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services has been under scrutiny as lawyers and legislators alike call for reform, and this new report will likely bolster those efforts.
“I definitely think that this report has really put the commission and its staff on notice that the status quo is no longer acceptable,” said state Sen. Justin Chenette, one of the lawmakers who asked for this investigation.
Impasse on funding leaves legal services for Maine s poor in limbo pressherald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from pressherald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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The office that oversees legal services for Maine’s poor is asking for more employees to fix a myriad of financial and constitutional problems identified by watchdog groups.
The Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services has been under scrutiny as lawyers and legislators alike call for reform. A state agency published a report last year that concluded the commission has little organizational structure, lacks oversight and does not have established policies for attorney billing. The longtime executive director stepped down from his position in December. New leadership has started to make changes but told legislators Friday that more resources are necessary.