Welcome to the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services
The Maine Commission on Public Defense Services (formerly known as the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services) was established by the Legislature in 2009 to provide high quality representation to Maine citizens who are entitled to counsel at state expense under the United States Constitution or under the Constitution or statutes of Maine. The Commission’s mission is to protect the rights of Maine’s indigent citizens in courts throughout the State by providing oversight, support, and training to assigned private counsel and to contract counsel. The Commission assumed responsibility for providing indigent legal services on July 1, 2010.
Attorneys
Please visit the About Us page to learn about the commission’s structure and responsibilities. Visit Attorney FAQ’s page to learn how to become eligible to receive assignments and for answers to other questions about the transition to the new system.
Members of the Public
Please visit our Public FAQ’s page for information about how to become eligible for indigent legal services. Feel free to Contact Us with further questions or comments.