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PA Legal Aid Network e-News
Friday, November 30, 2007
PA Bar Association Supports Increased Funding for Legal Services and a Limited Right to Counsel in Civil Cases
The Pennsylvania Bar Association House of Delegates has approved two resolutions with great impact on the legal aid community in Pennsylvania at its meeting held on November 30, 2007.
In the first resolution, submitted to the House of Delegates by the Legal Services to the Public Committee, the Pennsylvania Bar Association calls upon the General Assembly of Pennsylvania to restore the appropriation for civil legal services to indigent people to past levels of support, adjusted for the current value of appropriations of the past, and for increases in the number of people living in poverty.
Specifically, this resolution calls for a restoration of funding to the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. which provides legal service in every county of the state and as well as specialized services in certain areas, such as health, housing,and the needs of farmworkers.
The second resolution that was also submitted by the Legal Services to the Public Committee and approved by the House of Delegates, provides that Pennsylvania Bar Association urge the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to provide legal counsel as a matter of right to low income persons in those categories of adversarial proceedings where basic human needs are at stake, such as those involving shelter, sustenance, safety, health or child custody.
This resolution echoes an earlier resolution of the American Bar Association that urges federal, state, and territorial governments to provide legal counsel as a matter of right at public expense to low income persons in those categories of adversarial proceedings where basic human needs are at stake, such as those involving shelter, sustenance, safety, health or child custody, as determined by each jurisdiction.
Micheal S. Greco, who served as president of the American Bar Association during the 2005-2006 Association year, addressed the House of Delegate on video urging the passage of the resolution. Attorney Greco's video comments to the House of Delegates may be viewed at the link below.
Michael S. Greco Video Address
Resolution in Support of Increased Funding for Civil Legal Aid in Pennsylvania [PDF]
Resolution in support of Recognizing a Right to Counsel in Certain Civil Cases [PDF]
In the first resolution, submitted to the House of Delegates by the Legal Services to the Public Committee, the Pennsylvania Bar Association calls upon the General Assembly of Pennsylvania to restore the appropriation for civil legal services to indigent people to past levels of support, adjusted for the current value of appropriations of the past, and for increases in the number of people living in poverty.
Specifically, this resolution calls for a restoration of funding to the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. which provides legal service in every county of the state and as well as specialized services in certain areas, such as health, housing,and the needs of farmworkers.
The second resolution that was also submitted by the Legal Services to the Public Committee and approved by the House of Delegates, provides that Pennsylvania Bar Association urge the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to provide legal counsel as a matter of right to low income persons in those categories of adversarial proceedings where basic human needs are at stake, such as those involving shelter, sustenance, safety, health or child custody.
This resolution echoes an earlier resolution of the American Bar Association that urges federal, state, and territorial governments to provide legal counsel as a matter of right at public expense to low income persons in those categories of adversarial proceedings where basic human needs are at stake, such as those involving shelter, sustenance, safety, health or child custody, as determined by each jurisdiction.
Micheal S. Greco, who served as president of the American Bar Association during the 2005-2006 Association year, addressed the House of Delegate on video urging the passage of the resolution. Attorney Greco's video comments to the House of Delegates may be viewed at the link below.
Michael S. Greco Video Address
Resolution in Support of Increased Funding for Civil Legal Aid in Pennsylvania [PDF]
Resolution in support of Recognizing a Right to Counsel in Certain Civil Cases [PDF]
Labels: ABA, PBA, right to counsel
