As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 2009, c. 419, §2 (NEW).] 1. Assigned counsel. "Assigned counsel" means a private attorney designated by the commission to provide indigent legal services at public expense. [PL 2009, c. 419, §2 (NEW).] 1-A. Appellate counsel. "Appellate counsel" means an attorney who is entitled to payment under Title 15, section 2115-A, subsection 8 or 9. [PL 2013, c. 159, §10 (NEW).] 2. Commission. "Commission" means the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services under section 1801. [PL 2023, c. 558, §4 (AMD).] 3. Contract counsel. "Contract counsel" means a private attorney under contract with the commission to provide indigent legal services. [PL 2009, c. 419, §2 (NEW).] 3-A. Employed counsel. "Employed counsel" means an attorney employed by the commission to provide indigent legal services in civil proceedings. [PL 2025, c. 415, §1 (AMD).] 4. Indigent legal services. "Indigent legal services" means legal representation provided to: A. An indigent defendant in a criminal case in which the United States Constitution or the Constitution of Maine or federal or state law requires that the State provide representation; [PL 2009, c. 419, §2 (NEW).] B. An indigent party in a civil case in which the United States Constitution or the Constitution of Maine or federal or state law requires that the State provide representation; [PL 2019, c. 427, §1 (AMD).] C. Juvenile defendants; and [PL 2019, c. 427, §1 (AMD).] D. An indigent defendant or party or a juvenile for the purpose of filing, on behalf of that indigent defendant or party or juvenile, a petition for certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States from an adverse decision of the Law Court on a case for which services were previously provided to that defendant or party or juvenile pursuant to paragraph A, B or C. [PL 2019, c. 427, §2 (NEW).] "Indigent legal services" does not include the services of a guardian ad litem appointed pursuant to Title 22, section 4005, subsection 1. [PL 2021, c. 676, Pt. A, §3 (AMD).] 5. Public defender. "Public defender" means an attorney employed by the commission to provide indigent legal services in criminal and juvenile proceedings. [PL 2025, c. 415, §2 (AMD).]
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