Find links below to some of my legal and political reporting in The Free Press, The Maine Monitor, The Republican Journal, The Camden Herald and The Courier Gazette.
Lawyer seeks answers in crime lab contaminations – DNA testing carries an aura of perfection, but numerous factors in how the testing is carried out can skew the apparently unassailable results. A Maine criminal defense attorney believes a history of documented contamination at the State Police Crime Lab along with a lack of independent oversight, and a working relationship with prosecutors may be skewing the findings in favor of the state, at the expense of innocent convicts. Contributing reporter Jordan Andrews details the attorney’s quest for internal documents that could shed light on the question.
Judge orders evidentiary hearing for Bates, opening ‘actual innocence’ gateway in Maine
Clearing the Way for ‘Actual Innocence’
Evidence of Innocence? As a judge considers his fourth appeal and a resurrected bill challenges time limits on presenting new evidence, convicted murderer Foster Bates has renewed hope for a retrial.
Legal Seaweed: Shoreline access suit caught up in details of colonial MA ordinance| pdf
Seaweed industry threatened by ruling against harvesters
Vaccination debate: Maine voters get their say on Question 1
Contractor’s indictment for theft shines light on a ‘rampant’ problem
What did Dechaine’s federal denial really mean?
PACs aim to sway District 11 senate race | pdf
Accumulating evidence in Dechaine murder case raises questions
Destruction of DNA evidence an obstacle to new trial for Dechaine
Fact Check: Rep. Bruce Poliquin’s Child Support Assistance Act
Fact Check: Angus King on VStv
Fact Check: LePage’s Rockland Town Hall Meeting
*Articles in bold received a Maine Press Association award