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News Release
Texas Access to Justice Foundation AUSTIN, Texas – The
Texas Access to Justice Foundation will honor several Laredo judges and
lawyers on Feb. 28, at approximately 6:45 p.m. at the LaPosada Hotel for
outstanding pro bono efforts benefiting the local community. The
Pro Bono Star Awards will be presented by the Supreme Court of Texas, in
conjunction with their historic visit to hear oral agruments in Laredo. Those receiving
recognition for their support of the local Social Justice Night Court
program,
a successful pro bono court where litigants are
represented by pro bono attorneys in uncontested civil cases,
include:
Local attorneys
receiving the Pro Bono Star Award for outstanding pro bono efforts that
benefit the local community include:
“Pro bono work is
increasingly important as we find ways to join together in helping the
millions of Texans who cannot afford basic legal services,” said Texas
Supreme Court Justice Nathan L. Hecht, the court’s liaison for access to
justice issues. “As the number of those in need increases, and
our legal aid funding sources decrease, pro bono efforts are tremendously
vital to delivering access to justice to all, not just for those who can
afford it.” Visit to Local Legal
Aid Office In addition to the Pro
Bono Star Award presentations, the justices of the Supreme Court of Texas
will be visiting the local office of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid on
Wednesday, Feb. 29 at approximately 1 p.m., following their oral
arguments that morning at Texas A&M International University. Legal aid organizations
funded by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation help more than 120,000
low-income Texas families each year with their civil legal needs. Yet, for
every person who is helped with legal aid, a qualifying Texan is denied
assistance due to a lack of resources. Currently, only one legal aid lawyer
is available to provide assistance for every 11,152 Texans who qualify.
# # # The Texas Access to
Justice Foundation (www.teajf.org), created by the Supreme Court of
Texas in 1984, is the leading state-based funding source for the provision
of civil legal aid in Texas. The organization is committed to the vision
that all Texans will have equal access to justice, regardless of their
income. The Foundation administers a variety of funding sources, which are
earmarked to assist nonprofit organizations in providing legal aid to
approximately 120,000 Texans each year.
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