Justice
The Justice Program fights to secure the nation's promise of equal justice for all.
The American justice system is in disrepair. More than ever before, our courts are the province of the wealthy: private counsel is expensive, civil legal services programs are underfunded and restricted, qualified interpreters are few and far between, and technical rules destroy legitimate claims. In criminal proceedings, the poor rely on lawyers who have meager resources but must handle overwhelming caseloads. The government agencies that administer public benefits and enforce civil rights, and wage and hour, laws are politically influenced and underfunded. The Justice Department, itself, is in disarray. And, the war on terror has upset our checks and balances, sapping the justice system of its ability to prevent detention, torture and rendition of the innocent.
The Brennan Center's Justice Program is dedicated to justice system reform that reduces the gap between the promise of equal justice and the day to day reality. Our Access to Justice Project works to repair the "justice gap"—the inability of low income and of color communities to rely on courts and agencies to secure the rule of law and prevent harms. Our Liberty & National Security Project fights to restore checks and balances—the uniquely American method for keeping government honest and making public policy sound.
News and opinion pieces that praise, attack, or discuss free and
low-cost civil legal aid. Also see reports about civil legal
aid the media doesn't cover. Low-income individuals and
families, children, consumers, the elderly, the disabled, immigrants,
workers, prisoners, veterans, and people reliant on government benefits
or seeking health care share concerns about access to justice that are
frequently covered in the E-lert.
The Brennan Center is challenging funding restrictions put on organizations that receive Global AIDS Act funding.
This case tests the ambit of the protection afforded by the Sixth Amendment of right to counsel.
Comments to FCC Regarding Prison Phone Rates
The Brennan Center for Justice has submitted a series of comments on a petition asking the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") to issue a rule dealing with prison phone rates. The Comments urge the FCC to take into account the harms caused by the high costs of phone calls for prisoners, their families, court-appointed attorneys, and social services providers.
A Legal Practice Well Worth Doing
Community lawyering models get a boost from this new study of one legal services provider.
Monday marked the passing of a great partner in our work to restore voting rights to people who have come out of the criminal justice system....
Grading the Obama Administration
Government transparency is vital to a free and well-functioning democracy, and it is particularly so in the area of national security....
Illustrations by Risko
Senate Appropriations Committee Votes to Repeal “Poison Pill” Restriction on Federal Legal Services
On June 25, 2009, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to lift the “LSC poison pill restriction” - the federal appropriations provision that encumbers up to $490 million in state, local, and charitable private contributions raised by legal services nonprofits that receive federal funding from the nation’s Legal Services Corporation (LSC).
New Study Urges Congress to Remove Federal Restrictions on Legal Aid
Federal funding restrictions on legal aid for the poor are wasting money and undercutting the ability of families to fend off foreclosure and other legal problems amid the economic crisis, according to a white paper released today by the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law . . .
Bermuda Accepts Detainees as U.S. Starts Dismantling Guantanamo
The Brennan Center welcomes the Burmudan government’s decision to resettle four Guantánamo Uighurs.
Investigating Violations of the Rule of Law in Counter-Terrorism Policy
Proposal for an independent commission to investigate any violations.
45 House Members Call for the Repeal of Three of the Major LSC Restrictions
Members of Congress call on the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee to repeal three of the major restrictions on legal services providers receiving grants from the federal Legal Services Corporation.
Joint Letter to Chairwoman Mikulski, Chairman Mollohan, Sen. Shelby and Rep. Wolf
Organized by the Brennan Center, a letter from over 60 groups urging Congress to lift several of the restrictions on Legal Services Corporation grantees.
LCCR Urges Senate to Lift Legal Services Restrictions and Fully Fund LSC
Leader in Civil Rights Community, LCCR, writes letter to Senate urging repeal of legal services restrictions in FY 2010 Appropriations legislation.
Timeline of FY 2010 Appropriations Process and Efforts to Repeal the LSC Restrictions
An overview of the progress in this year’s efforts to lift the legal services restrictions.
Congress Must Lift Restrictions on Legal Aid
For the first time in more than a decade, Congress has a real chance to lift the crippling restrictions on the federally financed Legal Services Corporation (LSC) that have hampered the agency’s efforts to assist poor people seeking redress through the courts . . . .