What Changes are Coming to Fix Maine's Public Defense Crisis? w/Jim Billings

Aug 8

Today, Hunter is joined by Jim Billings, the Executive Director of the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services. At the very start of the show, Hunter spoke with then Executive Director of the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services, Justin Andrus, to discuss the problems facing Maine Public Defense. As a reminder, Maine was the only state that relied 100% on contract lawyers and no full time public defense offices. Since then, the crisis has only worsened. There are hundreds of people currently without counsel, and while the long term outlook looks promising, the short to medium term outlook face serious problems.

Guests: Jim Billings, Executive Director, Maine Commission on Public Defense Services

Resources:

Maine Unrepresented Crisis

https://www.aclumaine.org/en/mainesgrowingcrisis

Man released after bail lowered due to lack of Public Defenders

https://www.necn.com/news/local/shortage-of-public-defenders-in-maine-allowed-release-of-man-who-caused-fiery-standoff/3261950/

Contact Hunter Parnell:

Publicdefenseless@gmail.com

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