Meeting the needs of those currently turned away would require a doubling of federal aid, with commensurate increases from states and private groups, Ms. Barnett said, along with an increase in the contribution of free services from lawyers in private practice.
Really? I mean How much does this cost? aren't all lawyers obliged to offer their services?
Legal Aid has been focusing on helping illegals and stuff lately.
Their budget has not gone down as far as I know.
Defendants have the right to a free lawyer. Not plaintiffs and not in civil courts. Thats what Legal Aid does, I think.
It's unfair that in the US, the poor cannot access the critical levels of American jurisprudence. All their rights descend from their access to the law. All their protections are locked out by high costs.
WHY IS AMERICA SO BLIND TO JUSTICE FOR THE LEAST OF US?
/ SARCASM
Obama’s fault. If he’d cut taxes like any sane person would have done, there would not have been such pressure for states to reduce the tax burden.
Why don’t more lawyers step up to the plate and offer their services to the poor at no cost, just like how many doctors do now.
When is the gub’mint going to start carrying my car insurance and homeowner’s policy?
gosh, isn’t that a shame?
i wonder how many working americans cannot afford adequate legal representation?
Well, I don’t get any legal aid. I have to pay for my lawyers, but then again, I’m a white guy. I guess blacks are helpless and couldn’t get a lawyer unless someone gave them one, at least that what always needing to give them free stuff says about them.
Let me explain to you how “pro bono” work and the Legal Services Corporation work.
Leftist lawyers volunteer to do pro bono work for poor or indigent clients; also for organizations.
Yet, they still bill someone ... they bill LSC. Not for their full $500 per hour but maybe for $250/hour. And, they do get paid.
So these lib lawyers are never really “volunteering” their time. Their client gets the legal support for free. And we taxpayers get billed. And LSC is only too happy to throw their Gov’t funds at leftist causes.
I learned this back in 1995 when Gingrich et. al. took back the Congress. I was steamed to learn that “pro bono” wasn’t really free service. And that there had been a long-standing conspiracy between Democrats in Congress, leftist lawyers, leftist advocacy groups, and the LSC to use taxpayer money to fund lawsuits against the Government and corporations for their favorite causes.
I recall Gingrich talking about “defunding the left.” You should have heard the hue and cry from these libs, about losing their rice bowls.
It never happened.
I know of someone who had his birth certificate taken from him by the portland PD and that they also threatened to arrest him for false charges. He can't get legal aid there because Pine tree is booked and the MCLU is as well. And now this situation with cuts to legal aid.
Imagine having your property and assets forcibly confiscated by the government. Imagine not having a lawyer to defend you.
Imagine being put before an involuntary commitment hearing for anti government disorder. Who will defend you.
Imagine the police arresting you for peacefully protesting Obama and though not charged your rights and perhaps money and belongings are confiscated. What are you going to do?
This is being deliberately done by the liberals. They are paving way for a police state.