Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 4, § 1801 (2026)

Maine Commission on Public Defense Services; established

✓ current as of May 2026

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The Maine Commission on Public Defense Services, established by Title 5, section 12004‑G, subsection 25‑A, is an independent commission whose purpose is to provide high-quality, effective and efficient representation and promote due process for persons who receive indigent legal services in parity with the resources of the State and consistent with federal and state constitutional and statutory obligations. The commission shall work to ensure the delivery of indigent legal services by qualified and competent counsel in a manner that is fair and consistent throughout the State and to ensure adequate funding of a statewide system of indigent legal services, which must be provided and managed in a fiscally responsible manner, free from undue political interference and conflicts of interest. [PL 2023, c. 638, §1 (AMD).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 2009, c. 419, §2 (NEW). PL 2023, c. 558, §3 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 638, §1 (AMD).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 5 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2018–2024 · leading case: State v. Chase, 178 A.3d 465 (Me. 2018).

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State v. Chase, 178 A.3d 465 (Me. 2018). “The court was not, as Chase argues, required to provide him with a lawyer, see 4 M.R.S. § 1801 (2017) (establishing the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services to provide counsel paid for by the State only for specified case types), or with differently worded versions of the…”

Patrick Gordon v. Maine Comm'n on Pub. Def. Servs., 2024 ME 59 (Me. 2024). “” 4 M.R.S. § 1801 (2024). Rule 44 of the Maine Rules of Unified Criminal Procedure requires the court to appoint attorneys listed on rosters maintained by the Commission to serve as counsel for indigent criminal defendants who are at risk of incarceration or certain collateral…”

Carey v. Maine Bd. of Overseers of the Bar (Me. Super. Ct 2018). “) John Pelletier is the Executive Director of MCILS, which is a legislatively-created commission "whose purpose is to provide efficient, high-quality representation to indigent criminal defendants, juvenile defendants and children and parents in child protective cases .”

Robbins v. Maine Comm'n on Indigent Legal Servs. (Me. Super. Ct 2022). “" Opposition to Motion to Dismiss at 13; see also 4 M.R.S. §§ 1801 (requiring the Commission work to ensure adequate funding), 1805 (requiring the Executive Director to apply for and accept available funds).”

State of Maine v. Daniel L. Chase, 2018 ME 14 (Me. 2018). “The court was not, as Chase argues, required to provide him with a lawyer, see 4 M.R.S. § 1801 (2017) (establishing the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services to provide counsel paid for by the State only for specified case types), or with differently worded versions of the…”

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