Legal Question in Criminal Law in Maine
What happens if your appointed lawyer was taken critically ill and gave up practicing law, I was told the court should have contacted me & appointed a new lawyer, I have not been notified to appear in court but someone told me they saw my name on a court list to appear. What should I do & what happens when I get to court without my lawyer?
1 Answer from Attorneys
You should contact the court where you case is and inquire about any upcoming court dates or deadlines. When an attorney becomes aware of a terminal illness or otherwise needs to close a practice due to illness, the attorney has an obligation under the Maine Rule of Professional Conduct 1.16(a)(2) to make immediate plans with his office staff and outside alternate attorney(s) to notify all of his current clients of attorney's pending illness and probable office closing. The attorney also needs to ensure that all client files are delivered to clients, their authorized representative(s), or to substitute counsel upon the client's request. If you have to attend court without your attorney, you should inform the court of the situation and ask that new counsel be appointed.
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