2008 ABA Day in Washington

The American Bar Association hosted “ABA Day in Washington” on April 16 and 17 for bar leaders throughout the country to participate in legislative briefings and to meet with their congressional representatives regarding continued funding for the Legal Services Corporation.  The Texas delegation included Harper Estes, president-elect of the State Bar of Texas; Martha Dickie, immediate past president of the State Bar of Texas; Eduardo Rodriguez, past president of the State Bar of Texas; Richard Tate, chair of the Texas Access to Justice Foundation; Michelle Hunter, deputy executive director of the State Bar; Betty Balli Torres, executive director of the Texas Access to Justice Foundation; and Jim Sales, chair of the Commission.  The group visited Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn and 29 members of Congress and their staff, to discuss federal funding for legal services.

Chaired by Jim Sales, the Legislative Committee developed a legislative strategy for the 2007 session of the Texas Legislature regarding issues affecting legal services for low-income Texans.  At its last meeting in October, the committee finalized its list of legislative proposals and activities for consideration by the Commission.  A major legislative priority will be the extension of the legislation that established the sixty-five dollars dues assessment to support access to justice for poor Texans.

Access to Justice Day at the Legislature

A team from the Texas Access to Justice Commission spent Valentine’s Day a little differently this year by visiting Texas legislators to discuss various bills related to access to justice for poor and low-income Texans. (See Exhibit 4.) Members of the Commission’s team included Jim Sales, Gib Walton, Judge Lora Livingston, Harry Reasoner, Karen Neeley, and Lamont Jefferson.  They met with many legislators and staff to discuss state funding of legal services, as well as substantive bills introduced in the 80^th Legislature related to access to justice.  The day was a significant success as the team identified sponsors for several bills and received supportive messages from numerous legislators.  The event was patterned on the annual ABA Day in Washington where bar leaders from throughout the country visit their state congressional delegations asking for support for increased funding to the Legal Services Corporation.  Members of the Commission’s team continue to confer with various legislators in promoting a favorable vote on these key issues.