Maine’s highest court heard arguments Tuesday about if the state has met its obligation to provide lawyers to people who cannot afford them.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine, the Maine Commission on Public Defense Service and the state of Maine agree that indigent defendants — low-income people who cannot afford a lawyer — should have legal representation as soon as possible. The issues are that if there is a delay in getting that representation, does that violate people’s constitutional rights, and if so, what remedy is appropriate.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court heard arguments in two appeals stemming from a 2022 class action lawsuit brought by the ACLU against the commission and the state because of long delays in receiving competent defense lawyers.

One argument was

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