top of page

The Wraight.Law Blog
Search


Federal Circuit Resurrects Case By Maine Newspapers For Court Records Access
Newspapers get another day in court over access to court files - an important case for when records are electronically filed statewide.

Wraight.Law
Apr 30, 2022


Program To Give Poor Defendants An Attorney Earlier Being Worked On By Commission
Poor criminal defendants in Maine may get a publicly-funded lawyer earlier that their first appearance in court, according the head of...

Wraight.Law
Apr 24, 2022


Bar Exam Pass Rate Declining For Maine
Maine’s bar passage rate is the second lowest bar pass rate among states that have released their most recent scores - but the worse...

Wraight.Law
Apr 16, 2022


Commissioner Who Told Defense Attorneys To “Suck It Up” Resigns
A member of a Maine commission overseeing criminal defense for the poor has reportedly resigned just over a year after saying they should...

Wraight.Law
Apr 1, 2022


Judge’s Confirmation Brings Diversity To Maine’s Highest Court
A veteran judge has been confirmed as the first person of color to sit on Maine’s highest court. Governor Janet Mills had nominated judge...

Wraight.Law
Mar 8, 2022


Update: U.S. Supreme Court Declines To Hear Maine Case About Giving Up Trial Rights
A Maine case about what a defendant must be asked about giving up certain trial rights has been denied a chance to be heard by the United...

Wraight.Law
Feb 5, 2022


New Police Chief Takes Helm At SoPo After Years Of Leadership Turmoil
South Portland Police Department’s new permanent police chief is scheduled to start work in his new role today (February 1, 2022). Daniel...

Wraight.Law
Feb 1, 2022


Failing Grade By Legal Nonprofit For Civil Rights Claims In Pine Tree State
A national legal nonprofit has given Maine a failing grade for the ability of its citizens to sue police officers for breaching civil...

Wraight.Law
Jan 27, 2022


Backlog Of Criminal Cases In Maine Shows Little Sign of Improving
A backlog in the most serious criminal cases is fast approaching double pre-pandemic levels across Maine – and even the number of minor...

Wraight.Law
Jan 25, 2022


Legal Community Mourns Champion Of Maine’s Poor
A fierce advocate for bringing affordable legal services to Maine’s poor, has died of cancer. Nan Heald, who was highlighted in 2011 as a...

Wraight.Law
Jan 21, 2022


New Criminal Law Legislation Takes Effect From Today In Maine
The legislative session is over and laws affecting defendants and victims either took effect earlier this year or take effect today.

Wraight.Law
Oct 17, 2021


Chief Justice: Courts Are “Poor Step Child” of Maine Government Branches
Maine’s new Chief Justice has said she plans to tackle under-funding of the state’s courts, which she describes as the “poor step child”...

Wraight.Law
Oct 13, 2021


Update: Court Case Backlog Balloons During Pandemic
The number of criminal cases in Maine waiting to be resolved has ballooned to half as many additional cases as were being dealt with...

Wraight.Law
Oct 12, 2021


Spike In Virus Cases Causes Roll Back Of In-Person Court Hearings
Courts in Maine are rolling back the number of in-person hearings for criminal cases at a rapid clip because of the uptick in COVID 19...

Wraight.Law
Sep 24, 2021


New Laws Bring Changes To Policing Across Maine
Police in Maine will face additional restrictions, oversight and accountability, according to new laws that mostly come into effect next...

Wraight.Law
Sep 21, 2021


Rise In Criminal Cases And Fall In Defense Attorneys Worsens In Maine
Fewer criminal defense attorneys are willing to take cases against clients unable to afford a lawyer while the number of criminal cases...

Wraight.Law
Aug 30, 2021


Interim Head Of Criminal Defense Commission Gets Permanent Role As Director
The head of a Maine agency that oversees constitutionally-mandated defense for poor people accused of crimes has been offered the role on...

Wraight.Law
Jul 28, 2021


High Court Punts Fourth Amendment Case Over Whether Minor Charges Were Enough To Enter Home
The United States Supreme Court has decided NOT to decide a Fourth Amendment case over whether a driver’s loud music, horn honking, and...

Wraight.Law
Jun 23, 2021


Courts Open Up In Post-Pandemic Era With New Rules Across Maine
New rules released on how courts are to operate as the judicial branch struggles to deal with the case backlog

Wraight.Law
Jun 2, 2021


UPDATE Maine's New Chief Justice Is Confirmed By State Senate
Justice Stanfill replaces Leigh Saufley who resigned to become dean of Maine's only law school.

Wraight.Law
May 27, 2021
bottom of page
