This week at the ACLU of Maine: Community protests, next steps in our Sixth Amendment case, our 2025 bill tracker, and more!

SATURDAY 4/5: Join Your Community to Send a Clear Message to Washington and Know Your Rights When Protesting

From York to Presque Isle, communities throughout Maine are joining the nationwide "Hands Off!" rallies this weekend. Communities are sending a clear message in response to President Trump’s repeated abuses of power. In Maine, more than 20 cities and towns are hosting protests. The ACLU of Maine will be at the rally in Portland to meet community members and share resources.

Make sure you know your rights when protesting, and help us spread the word. These resources provide vital information on how to prepare for a protest safely, understand your rights while protesting, and what to do if those rights are violated. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with these materials, and be sure to share them with your friends and family. If you're interested in attending the protest, find more information about it here. 

Know Your Rights Social Media Graphic

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS FACT SHEET (Eng/Esp)

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS BOOKLET (ENG/ESP) 

MONDAY 4/7: Next step in Robbins Sixth Amendment Case

It's been nearly a month since the Kennebec County Superior Court ruled in our favor, ordering the state to address its public defense failures. The Sixth Amendment guarantees that states provide legal representation to those who can't afford it, yet Maine has widely denied people this for years.

The state has now submitted a proposal to resolve the crisis, which you can read here. A hearing is scheduled for Monday to discuss the proposal. The judge may decide whether to accept or reject it, or issue a decision at a later date. Additionally, the court could begin scheduling hearings for people who are incarcerated and have been denied counsel – all at a time when they are legally innocent. If they have been incarcerated for 14+ days, the state will have 7 days to find counsel or release them.

We’ll continue to keep you updated as this case progresses.

Learn More about Robbins v. State of Maine

See the Full List of Bills We're Watching in the Legislature

We've updated our legislation page so you can track the bills we're advocating for and against at the State House. You can find the full list of bills we're weighing in on, plus links to pages that focus on some of our top legislative priorities this session, including abortion rights, the right to a speedy trial, privacy, and more.

We'll continue to add priority issue areas as bills are printed and hearings are scheduled. This page will be ever-evolving as the legislative session moves forward, so check back often!

See Our Legislative Priorities

Relevant reads:

• Portland Press Herald: Maine’s public defense agency to scale back billing oversight, training to focus on attorney recruitment
• News Center Maine: Maine worker at center of federal lawsuit against mass layoffs
• Maine Morning Star: Title IX case against Maine schools headed to U.S. Department of Justice