Access to Justice

Defense of the unpopular: Lawyers should not suffer backlash for defending rights of unsympathetic clients

Our adversarial justice system requires a defense attorney to stand up for the accused and balance the arguments of the prosecution. A lawyer can guide a client through the process and defend their civil rights without excusing or condoning what the client is accused of doing. Even Nazi war criminals were afforded counsel. It did not mean their lawyers were sympathizers.

Jul 1, 2019 12:50 AM CDT

Few people seek legal solutions to their justice problems, worldwide survey finds

About half of people surveyed from around the world said they experienced a recent civil legal problem, but most did not turn to lawyers and courts. The study by the World Justice Project found that 49% of people experienced at least one legal problem in the past two years. Among…

Jun 27, 2019 12:01 PM CDT

Inhumane treatment of immigrant children violates ‘law, court settlements and common decency,’ ABA says

The ABA is "appalled by credible reports of hundreds of children being held in unsafe and unhealthy conditions in violation of federal and state law, court settlements and common decency," ABA President Bob Carlson said Tuesday.

Jun 26, 2019 6:30 AM CDT

LSAC announces competition for law student access-to-justice ideas

Know any law students who have good ideas about helping low-income people with debt, evictions or government benefits? They could win up to $15,000 in seed money from the Law School Admission Council to work with nonprofit legal services groups.

Jun 21, 2019 10:56 AM CDT

This state is expected to become the first to collect prosecutor data, with breakdowns by race

Connecticut is expected to become the first state to collect statewide criminal case data from prosecutors broken down by the defendants’ race, sex, ethnicity, age and ZIP code. In votes in late May and early June, Connecticut legislators unanimously approved the transparency bill known as SB 880, report the Associated…

Jun 14, 2019 7:00 AM CDT

What I got for Father’s Day: Reflecting on parenthood, the law and justice

Attorney William Horton says his family is probably a bit different than most. And that difference has changed him, as a lawyer, as a citizen and as a human being.

Jun 13, 2019 6:30 AM CDT

Facing shortage of lawyers in some areas, this state is considering licensing legal technicians

The New Mexico Supreme Court has appointed a work group to consider whether the state should allow licensed legal technicians to provide civil legal services. The court has asked the group to submit a report by January 2020, according to a May 21 press release. Courthouse News Service and the…

May 28, 2019 7:00 AM CDT

Homeless veterans bill would ensure legal services are available ‘when they are needed most,’ ABA says

ABA President Bob Carlson urged the Senate’s Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on Tuesday to support bipartisan legislation that would implement new strategies for removing barriers that prevent homeless veterans from receiving vital benefits, services and treatment. In a letter sent to committee Chair Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Ranking Member Jon…

May 23, 2019 11:50 AM CDT

16% of Americans think Clarence Thomas is chief justice, ABA civics survey finds

In a new survey, the ABA highlighted gaps in Americans’ knowledge of history and government as part of the ABA Survey of Civic Literacy 2019, the first comprehensive survey of its kind by the association. The results of the nationwide poll of 1,000 people were released Wednesday to mark Law Day, a national event established by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1958 to recognize the country’s commitment to the rule of law.

May 1, 2019 6:00 AM CDT

Texas lawyer is the top volunteer for ABA’s free online legal aid clinic

Jack Fan is a volunteer with Texas Legal Answers, part of the ABA’s Free Legal Answers virtual legal aid clinic. The service allows income-eligible clients to post civil legal questions for pro bono attorneys in their state. According to the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, which annually recognizes attorneys who provide extraordinary pro bono services through Free Legal Answers, Fan has answered more questions than any other attorney in the country. In 2018, he responded to nearly 1,100 of them.

May 1, 2019 1:30 AM CDT

Public defenders ask to step down from Parkland shooting case

Two public defenders representing Nikolas Cruz—the suspect in the Parkland, Florida, school shooting that left 17 people dead and another 17 injured in 2018—unexpectedly requested to be removed from his case Wednesday.

Apr 25, 2019 3:44 PM CDT

Criminal defense attorney and judge settle suit over alleged retaliation involving recording

A Houston criminal defense attorney who recorded a Galveston County judge saying he “overworks” cases and lacks experience has settled his lawsuit against the judge. In March 2018, Andrew Willey sued Judge Jack Ewing of the Galveston County Court at Law No. 3 for allegedly retaliating against him by refusing…

Apr 23, 2019 4:09 PM CDT

ACLU challenges attorney over sexual relationships, time out of practice

The American Civil Liberties Union is trying to remove an attorney from a death penalty case in Kern County in California, arguing that his sexual relationships with a client’s daughters and lengthy leave of absence from the law could be detrimental to the client. Lawyer Gary Turnbull was appointed to…

Apr 23, 2019 9:25 AM CDT

Nonprofit law pioneer applauds ‘low bono’ growth

Before they were buzzwords, Luz Herrera was a pioneer in the world of "low bono" practice, nonprofit law firms and legal incubators. All three innovations have blossomed and spread across the country since then.

Apr 17, 2019 6:30 AM CDT

AG Barr plans to use color-coding to explain Mueller report redactions

U.S. Attorney General Will Barr said Tuesday that he plans to use color-coding and notes to explain redactions in the report by special counsel Robert Mueller. Barr told the House Appropriations Committee that he will be in a position to release the report to the public within a week, report…

Apr 9, 2019 2:36 PM CDT