Maine to drop charges, release people from jail over public defense failures

Maine to Release Criminal Defendants from Jail, Drop Charges If Lawyer is Not Available

Criminal defendants in Maine will now be released from jail if a lawyer is not provided within 14 days, and charges must be dropped for those who have been incarcerated for more than 60 days without receiving legal representation. Those who are released from jail under this new order will be subject to conditions of [...] The post Maine to Release Criminal Defendants from Jail, Drop Charges If Lawyer is Not Available appeared first on The Maine …

Maine must release people from jail, drop charges if no lawyer available, justice rules

People who have been charged with crimes must be released from jail after 14 days if the state of Maine fails to provide a lawyer within that time, according to a new court order issued Friday. Maine has not provided lawyers to indigent defendants, people who cannot afford lawyers, “in violation of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” Kennebec County Superior Justice Michaela Murphy wrote in the order. Hundreds of Mainers are …

Maine to drop charges, release people from jail over public defense failures

Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy gives Maine's public defense agency 1 month before criminal defendants who cannot afford their own attorneys are released from jail if they have waited more than 2 weeks for a lawyer.

Maine to drop charges, release people from jail in April over public defense failures

Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy is giving Maine's public defense agency a month to find lawyers for criminal defendants who cannot afford their own attorney.