ME LD2195

Courts (District Court, Superior Court, and Supreme Judicial Court) would be prohibited from appointing or assigning private attorneys to represent indigent defendants without the attorney's consent

Private attorneys are defined as those who are not public defenders, contract counsel, or employed counsel

Two conditions must be met before a private attorney can be appointed: the attorney must consent and the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services must determine the attorney is eligible

Enacts new section 1808 in Title 4 of Maine Revised Statutes governing court appointment of private attorneys for indigent legal services