Maine

Judge who sealed documents about her beach property gets reversed by appeals court

A Connecticut appeals court has vacated a judge’s order sealing two documents about a beach property that she owned in Maine after a law professor stepped in to argue for their release.

Feb 12, 2020 2:05 PM CST

On prison and rehabilitation: ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ 25 years later

Stephen King’s novella premiered as an adapted motion picture that earned seven Oscar nominations. The depictions of the adjustment challenges of reentry have been referenced in several professional journals on incarceration. But what of the significance?

Sep 26, 2019 6:30 AM CDT

‘Gate money’ for released prisoners is usually chump change

Some formerly incarcerated people say it’s often not enough to meet their basic needs

Sep 11, 2019 2:49 PM CDT

New York legislature OKs ban on gay and trans ‘panic defenses’

New York is poised to join the increasing number of states that are banning gay and trans “panic defenses” in murder cases. As the ABA Journal reported in January, legislatures have increasingly considered this type of ban.

Jun 26, 2019 6:00 AM CDT

In states where inmates can vote, few exercise their right to cast ballots

When Sen. Bernie Sanders championed voting rights for prisoners during a CNN town hall, he spotlighted an intensifying national debate about why going to prison means losing the right to vote.

Jun 14, 2019 7:30 AM CDT

Second state adopts ABA model rule barring discrimination and harassment by lawyers

Maine has adopted an ABA model rule that bars discrimination and harassment by lawyers. Maine is the second state to adopt Rule 8.4(g) of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, according to Bloomberg Law. Vermont was the first. Maine’s Supreme Judicial Court adopted the new rule, which takes effect…

Jun 13, 2019 11:39 AM CDT

How the Americans with Disabilities Act could change the way the nation’s jails and prisons treat addiction

Before Geoffrey Pesce got on methadone, his addiction to heroin and oxycodone nearly destroyed him: He lost his home, his job, custody of his son—and his driver’s license. So even after he began to rebuild his life, Pesce relied on his parents to drive him to a methadone clinic for his daily dose. One day last July, his mother was unexpectedly unavailable, and desperate not to relapse, he drove himself.

Feb 8, 2019 6:30 AM CST

FBI asks Google to turn over data on all users who were close to robbery locations

The FBI has asked Google for location data on anyone close in time and location to robberies in Virginia and Maine. The FBI’s “reverse location” orders could ensnare anyone who uses Google services at specific times in the robbery areas, Forbes reports. People could be caught up in the probes…

Oct 25, 2018 8:30 AM CDT

JDs from middle-ranked schools in states with many public colleges may give best investment return

Between 2010 and 2014, net tuition declined the most at middle-ranked law schools, due to merit scholarship patterns associated with maintaining or improving rankings, according to a law review article by Jerome M. Organ, which looks at variable returns on investing in a law degree.

Sep 15, 2017 3:35 PM CDT

Probate judge accused of slowing docket because of denied pay raise wins class-action appeal

Maine’s highest court has ruled against a woman seeking guardianship of her grandchild who filed a would-be class action against a part-time probate judge accused of slowing his docket after he was denied additional court time and pay. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed a trial judge’s finding that Judge…

Jul 28, 2017 7:00 AM CDT

Court security officer is accused of emailing photo of defense lawyer’s notes to prosecutor

A court security officer in Augusta, Maine, has been placed on paid leave pending an internal investigation into allegations that he took a cellphone photo of a defense lawyer’s notes and then emailed it to the prosecutor. The Kennebec County security officer allegedly took the photo on Tuesday while lawyers…

Mar 3, 2017 12:00 PM CST

Lawyer accused of sexting appointed client gets interim suspension

A Maine lawyer accused of sexting a client he was appointed to represent in several criminal cases has received an interim suspension while a disciplinary case is pending against him. Justice Jeffrey Hjelm of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, the state’s top court, imposed the interim suspension on South Portland…

Aug 4, 2016 8:00 AM CDT

Prosecutor’s feigned sleep during defense closing didn’t create prejudicial error, court says

Maine’s top court has refused to overturn a murder conviction in a case where the prosecutor admitted he likely tried to annoy the defense lawyer by feigning sleep during his closing. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled (PDF) on Tuesday that there was no prejudicial error in the trial of…

Feb 4, 2016 7:47 AM CST

Told to give up gun after shooting alleged burglar, disabled tenant sues landlord

A former Maine lobsterman has sued his landlord, after shooting an intruder at his government-subsidized Rockland apartment earlier this year and being told he must give up his gun or face eviction. Harvey Lembo, 67, uses a wheelchair. He says he got a gun after being burglarized four times by…

Nov 18, 2015 1:35 PM CST

City to pay $175K in legal costs for ACLU’s successful suit against panhandling law

A successful challenge of a panhandling law by the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine will cost the city of Portland $175,000 in legal expenses, in addition to the cost of defending the civil rights suit. An agreement to pay this amount was filed Wednesday in federal court in Portland,…

Nov 4, 2015 4:50 PM CST