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Two-year budget leaves public defense reform underfunded

A budget that will guide the next two years of spending in Maine passed the Legislature late last month without expanded funding for legal services for low-income Mainers. The decision opens the door further to litigation if lawmakers cannot resolve a decade of underfunding for a mandatory state service. Lawmakers committed $17.6 million to the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services, or MCILS, in each of the next two budget years. Most of that will be spent to reimburse private defense attorneys contracted with the state to represent those who cannot afford to hire their own lawyers. This story was originally published by The Maine Monitor.

United statesRyan fecteaud biddefordPatrick coreyr windhamJustin andrusZach heidenJohn pelletierCathy breend falmouthOffice of the maine attorneyFinancial affairs committeeMaine commission on indigent legal servicesMaine commissionIndigent legal servicesJanet millsMaine monitorMaine attorney generalJeffrey evangelos

Public defense commission nominees, including Jefferson resident, broke rules to work on serious criminal cases

Public defense commission nominees, including Jefferson resident, broke rules to work on serious criminal cases
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Lincoln countyUnited statesBoothbay harborMeegan burbankRon schneiderTina nadeauKelly mcdonaldMatthew morganWilliam avantaggioWalter mckeeLindsay creteSarah churchillJustin andrusJohn pelletierBob cumminsSupreme court justice donaldg alexander

Maine Legislature weighs changes to criminal defense system for the poor

Maine Legislature weighs changes to criminal defense system for the poor Share Updated: 9:45 PM EDT Mar 31, 2021 Share Updated: 9:45 PM EDT Mar 31, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript Kennebec and Somerset County District Attorney Megan Maloney says her job is not putting criminals away. My job is justice, which includes making sure people her office prosecutes have decent lawyers. If everyone is not fairly represented, then we are not doing our job to be fair to everyone. It troubles her that Maine is the only state without a public defender system, full time criminal defense offices for the poor paid for with public funds. So I d be happy to be the place where we begin to make that change. Setting up a pilot public defender s office is part of the reforms pushed by state representative Jeffrey Evangelos. We have to get up to speed with what s happening in the rest of the country that s using public defender offices of We have to pay our attorney

United statesAndroscoggin countyJeffrey evangelosJim howaniecJustin andrusZach heidenMeghan maloneyMaine legislature judiciary committeeMaine commission on indigent legal servicesAmendment centerAmerican civil liberties union of maineSixth amendmentFriendship evangelosSixth amendment centerMaine commissionIndigent legal services

With 120 days to make a difference, temporary director proposes changes to reform Maine s public defense agency

The temporary director of Maine’s public defense agency likened his first month on the job to a doctor performing “triage” as he has tried to restore financial and operational integrity to a fraught state agency. Justin Andrus intended to reopen his private law practice late last year, but instead was asked to help the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services, or MCILS, get back on track. It’s been one month since he joined as interim executive director of the agency responsible for training and supervising private lawyers who defend the poor against criminal charges and other legal matters on behalf of the state.

United statesUniversity of maineCumberland countyLisa keimr dixfieldZach heidenAndrei maciagEleanor maciagJustin andrusDavid carrollJohn pelletierBob cumminsFinancial affairs committeeUniversity of maine school lawMaine commission on indigent legal servicesJudiciary committeeGovernment oversight committee

Watchdog report says Maine s legal defense program for the poor lacks oversight, organization

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. Share 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.

United statesKennebec countyCumberland countyAnne marie mastraccioJustin chenetteJohn pelletierLegislature government oversight committeeOffice of program evaluationMaine commission on indigent legal servicesCommission on indigent legal servicesAmendment centerMaine commissionIndigent legal servicesProgram evaluationGovernment accountabilityIndigent legal