Hallowell, ME – The Maine Justice Foundation has made inaugural grants from its Racial Justice Fund to six Maine groups. The goal of the Fund is to support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color statewide to forge social, systemic, and economic solutions that will address racism and inequities in our culture, organizations and systems. “We…Read More
Applications Are Now Closed for the Foundation’s Racial Justice Fund
The Maine Justice Foundation has started the inaugural grant cycle for its Racial Justice Fund. The Foundation’s deadline for applications for grants of up to $10,000 closed on Wednesday, March 10. For a full description of the Racial Justice Fund and its Advisory Committee and donors, visit www.justicemaine.org/grants-and-programs/racial-justice-fund. “Grants from the Racial Justice Fund will…Read More
Welcome to Our New Board Members
Hallowell, Maine—The Board of the Maine Justice Foundation elected three new Directors at its meetings of September 11 and December 4, 2020. The work of increasing access to justice only happens because of the dedication of attorneys and other Maine people who volunteer their time on nonprofit boards, on state commissions and as pro bono…Read More
MaineBiz: Racial justice fund seeks fundamental change to combat racial inequity
In its November 16 issue, MaineBiz interviews Executive Director Michelle Draeger and Advisory Committee members Marcelle Medford, Michael-Corey Hinton and Tim Dentry: “Racial justice fund seeks fundamental change to combat racial inequity.”…Read More
Former Chief Justices: Maine Must Address Racial Injustice
Maine Voices: Racial Injustice is a Sad Reality and Maine Is No Exception By Daniel E. Wathen and Leigh Ingalls Saufley – Special to the Portland Press Herald, September 10, 2020. “We the people of Maine, in order to establish justice …” Those are the first words of the preamble of the Maine Constitution.…Read More
Updated: Corporate and Philanthropic Leaders Donate $270,000 to Launch Racial Justice Fund
Hallowell, ME – Corporations and philanthropic leaders across Maine have joined forces to raise $270,000 to combat racial injustice and inequity throughout the state through the Racial Justice Fund of the Maine Justice Foundation. These corporate FOUNDERS and civic leaders are as follows: AARP Maine, Androscoggin Bank, AT&T, Baker Newman Noyes, Bangor Savings Bank, Bernstein…Read More
Now Accepting Applications for the Frank M. Coffin Family Law Fellowship
The Frank M. Coffin Family Law Fellowship provides legal representation in family law matters to clients who have qualified for pro bono assistance through the Volunteer Lawyers Project. Named after Frank M. Coffin, Senior Judge on the First Circuit Court of Appeals, the Project supports attorneys based in the Portland, Maine offices of Pine Tree…Read More
In Memoriam: Juliet C. Holmes Smith
The sudden loss of Juliet Holmes-Smith on August 14 was stunning and tragic. As an attorney at Pine Tree Legal Assistance and later the founding Executive Director of the Volunteer Lawyers Project, Juliet spent a career fighting for Maine’s vulnerable – especially for those escaping domestic abuse. Juliet possessed a perfect balance of fortitude and…Read More
Maine Justice Foundation Recognizes the Champions of Access to Justice
The Board of the Maine Justice Foundation is pleased to honor three outstanding Maine lawyers who are champions of civil legal aid: Jamie Kilbreth of Drummond Woodsum, Prof. Anna Welch of the University of Maine School of Law, and Daniel Keenan of McCloskey, Mina, Cunniff & Frawley. Board President Bill Harwood recognized their efforts to…Read More
Access to Justice in Light of Recent Violence Against Black Americans – Statement of the Maine Justice Foundation
Every person in America must have access to the justice system and equal protection under the law. This is not a principle to be conditioned on race, gender, gender identification, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, financial condition or religion. We cannot faithfully profess this belief while standing silent and still in the face of so many…Read More