Maine § 1803. - Commission structure

§ 1803.. Commission structure

1.  Members; appointment; chair.  The commission consists of 9 members appointed by the Governor and subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters and confirmation by the Legislature. The Governor shall designate one member to serve as chair of the commission. The membership consists of the following:

A. One member from a list of qualified potential appointees, provided by the President of the Senate;   [PL 2017, c. 430, §1 (NEW).]

B. One member from a list of qualified potential appointees, provided by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;   [PL 2017, c. 430, §1 (NEW).]

C. Three members from a list of qualified potential appointees, provided by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court;   [PL 2017, c. 430, §1 (NEW).]

D. One member with experience in administration and finance;   [PL 2017, c. 430, §1 (NEW).]

E. One member with experience providing representation in child protection proceedings;   [PL 2017, c. 430, §1 (NEW).]

F. One member from a list of qualified potential appointees who are attorneys engaged in the active practice of law and provide indigent legal services, provided by the president of the Maine State Bar Association. This member is a nonvoting member of the commission; and   [PL 2017, c. 430, §1 (NEW).]

G. One member from a list of qualified potential appointees who are attorneys engaged in the active practice of law and provide indigent legal services, provided by the president of a statewide organization, other than the Maine State Bar Association, that represents criminal defense attorneys. This member is a nonvoting member of the commission.   [PL 2017, c. 430, §1 (NEW).]

In determining the appointments and recommendations under this subsection, the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, the president of the Maine State Bar Association and the president of the statewide organization that represents criminal defense attorneys shall consider input from individuals and organizations with an interest in the delivery of indigent legal services. Recommendations provided by the president of the Maine State Bar Association and the president of the statewide organization representing criminal defense attorneys must consist of attorneys providing indigent legal services as a majority of their law practices.  

2.  Qualifications.  Individuals appointed to the commission must have demonstrated a commitment to quality representation for persons who are indigent and have the knowledge required to ensure that quality of representation is provided in each area of law. No more than 7 members may be attorneys engaged in the active practice of law. A person who is a sitting judge, prosecutor or law enforcement official, or an employee of such a person, may not be appointed to the commission. A voting member and the immediate family members living in the same household as the member may not receive compensation from the commission, other than that authorized in Title 5, section 12004‑G, subsection 25‑A, while the member is serving on the commission.

The limitations on members receiving compensation from the commission do not apply to any member serving on the commission as of April 1, 2018 for the duration of the member's term.  

3.  Terms.  Members of the commission are appointed for terms of 3 years each, except that of those first appointed the Governor shall designate 2 whose terms are only one year, 2 whose terms are only 2 years and one whose term is 3 years. A member may not serve more than 2 consecutive 3-year terms plus any initial term of less than 3 years.

A member of the commission appointed to fill a vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of term is appointed only for the unexpired term of the member succeeded.  

4.  Quorum.  A quorum is a majority of the current voting members of the commission . A vacancy in the commission does not impair the power of the remaining members to exercise all the powers of the commission.

5.  Compensation.  Each member of the commission is eligible to be compensated as provided in Title 5, chapter 379.