Maine Chief Justice Calls for More Lawyers for Indigent Defendants

Despite progress, state still has unacceptably high number of pending cases without appointed counsel, Stanfill says.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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In her annual State of the Judiciary address, Maine Supreme Court Chief Justice Valerie Stanfill said the state has made progress in lowering the number of pending criminal cases without appointed counsel, but that the current figure of around 285 cases is still "unacceptably high." Stanfill said the judiciary is working through a pandemic-era backlog, with the criminal caseload still up 25-30% from pre-pandemic levels.

Why it matters

Ensuring that all criminal defendants have access to legal representation, regardless of their ability to pay, is a fundamental tenet of the justice system. Maine's high number of pending cases without appointed counsel raises concerns about the state's ability to uphold this principle and provide fair trials.

The details

While the total number of cases lacking counsel has been reduced from over 1,000 a year ago, Stanfill said "there shouldn't be any, this shouldn't be a statistic that we're tracking at all." The judiciary is working to modernize courthouses across the state, with expansion projects underway in Lewiston and Skowhegan, and plans for a new courthouse in Ellsworth. Stanfill also said the courts are transitioning to a new electronic records system and implementing other technological improvements like an online payment site and text message hearing reminders.

  • In her annual State of the Judiciary address on Thursday, February 13, 2026.
  • The number of pending cases without appointed counsel is down from over 1,000 a year ago.

The players

Valerie Stanfill

The Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Court.

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What they’re saying

“So while the total number of cases lacking counsel is significantly reduced, it's still unacceptably high. There shouldn't be any, this shouldn't be a statistic that we're tracking at all.”

— Valerie Stanfill, Chief Justice, Maine Supreme Court (Bangor Daily News)

What’s next

The judiciary is working to further reduce the backlog of cases without appointed counsel, with the goal of eliminating this issue entirely.

The takeaway

Maine's efforts to ensure all criminal defendants have access to legal representation, despite progress, still have room for improvement. Ensuring the right to counsel is a critical component of a fair and equitable justice system.