WASHINGTON – The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) strongly opposes efforts to effectively eliminate the offices, organizations, regulations, and funding that provide for basic needs like food, health, shelter and safety, as well as the legal systems that protect entitlements to such benefits and services. NLADA stands in support of access to counsel, regardless of ability to pay in the civil and criminal system. It is a crucial component of a fair and impartial legal system.
NLADA President & CEO April Frazier Camara released the following statement in response to the mass staffing cuts at federal agencies and the termination of federal grants that support hundreds of nonprofits in service of communities:
“May 1 typically marks Law Day, a moment when the legal community celebrates the rule of law and the value of our legal system. But this year, it’s impossible to do so without recognizing the tremendous harm being caused by the rampant federal cuts to services and disregard for the rule of law.
“The termination of billions of dollars of federal grants means that Americans lack basic needs. Food pantries shelves are sparse. Domestic violence shelters and health centers have closed. More families face eviction and homelessness without access to subsidies. Veterans and people with disabilities cannot access their benefits. Workers have little recourse for unsafe conditions or unpaid wages. People in need of mental health and substance disorder treatment languish in jails because service providers are closing their doors due to proposed cuts to Medicaid.
“Normally, these problems are handled by civil legal aid lawyers and public defenders across the country. Access to legal counsel is about ensuring access to all the other systems in our society. But because of the recent cuts in federal funding, low-income people cannot rely on these vital services or access to an attorney who can help them access them. The recent federal cuts will increase the need for these services while at the same time decreasing the funding for the agencies who provide them. Federal funding and institutions, as well as a vigorous and independent legal system, are essential to protecting the health and welfare of all people in the United States.
“Civil legal aid lawyers and public defenders are essential not only for ensuring fairness in the legal system, but for ensuring safety and stability for the people they serve. People who cannot afford counsel and are left to fight abusive employers, unscrupulous landlords, unlawful arrests and aggressive prosecutors on their own are fighting an unfair battle. The lawyers that stand up for people in these situations not only protect the rights of vulnerable individuals, but they also ensure our government is accountable to all and the law applies fairly to everyone.
“We are all better served when the government invests in the people and institutions that ensure our needs are met. Justice should never depend on how much money you have. Eliminating federal support undermines America’s core principles of justice and leaves vulnerable communities defenseless. On Law Day, we urge lawmakers to stand with those who need legal protection most and preserve funding for civil legal aid and public defense. NLADA calls on legislators to recognize the devastating impact these funding cuts would have and maintain strong federal support to ensure justice remains accessible to all.”
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The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA), founded in 1911, is America's oldest and largest nonprofit association devoted to excellence in the delivery of legal services to those who cannot afford counsel. NLADA has pioneered access to justice at the national, state, and local levels, playing a leadership role in the creation of public defender systems and other important institutions from The Sentencing Project to the Legal Services Corporation. A leader in the development of national standards for civil legal aid and public defense, NLADA also provides advocacy, training, and technical assistance for equal justice advocates across the country.
NLADA Mutual Insurance Co., RRG
