April 24, 2003

  Contact:   Laura Figueroa

  512.320.0099 x. 14

  lfigueroa@txiolta.org

TEXAS GROUPS GEAR UP FOR CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL LAW DAY

Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation and Texas Access to Justice Commission

will launch legal assistance Web site.

AUSTIN, Texas – On May 1st, which is known as National Law Day, Texas organizations and individuals will join a cross-country celebration of the strengths of the American judicial system.

Law Day serves as a timely reminder that everyone, regardless of income, deserves meaningful access to the justice system. Although this year is the 40th anniversary of the United States Supreme Court decision in Gideon v. Wainwright, which provides a guarantee of counsel to indigent criminal defendants, poor Texans with critical civil legal needs continue to lose their homes, jobs or children because they cannot afford attorneys.  

In order to draw attention to this disparity in access to justice, several Legal Aid organizations, bar associations, attorneys and volunteers across the state will undertake special events and activities aimed at assisting low-income individuals with their legal problems during Law Week, which will be observed April 28 through May 2. Planned programs include extended legal hotline hours, legal clinics and open houses.  Examples include:

• The Political Asylum Project of Austin will host a walk-in legal clinic to provide immigrants with immigration law questions (April 28-30). 
• The Houston Bar Association will host LegalLine, which gives the public the opportunity to speak to volunteer attorneys and get answers to their legal questions over the phone (May 1).

For a list of Law Week Access to Justice activities in Texas by city, visit http://www.texasatj.org/ProgramsServices/LawDayC00D/C00DTexasLawDayActi0A6F.asp

John Jones, chair of the Texas Access to Justice Commission, said, “As someone who grew up in poverty, I am keenly aware that access to justice can be hard to come by for those of limited means. I am grateful to and wish to commend local bar associations, Legal Aid groups and the generous attorneys who work hard to help low-income individuals deal with their civil legal problems.”

As part of the Law Week Access to Justice activities in Austin, the Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation and the Texas Access to Justice Commission, with funding from the Legal Services Corporation, will launch www.TexasLawHelp.org on May 1, 2003. This online resource features civil legal information for low-income Texans in areas such as family matters, employment, domestic violence and consumer rights. 

Betty Balli Torres, Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation Director, said, “The Foundation is very excited to be a partner in the launch of TexasLawHelp.org. During National Law Week – indeed, throughout the year – it is imperative that we assist more poor and low-income individuals in gaining access to the civil justice system. Due to limited resources, Legal Aid is unable to help many Texans who desperately need legal services. TexasLawHelp.org provides people with one tool to help them obtain information about addressing their legal needs.”

First proclaimed in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and officially designated by a joint resolution of Congress in 1961, Law Day serves to highlight the United States’ heritage of liberty, justice and equality under the law. The celebration is also intended to emphasize the rule of law – rather than rule by force – that defines American society.

-30-