News Release
Texas Access to Justice Foundation Legislative Heroes, Supporters, and Prime Partner Banks Honored by Access to Justice Community
AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF) kicked off
Texas Pro Bono Week today by hosting a luncheon with the Supreme Court of
Texas at the AT&T Conference Center in Austin. TAJF, the Texas Access to
Justice Commission, the State Bar of Texas and Texas legal aid service
providers are joining a national effort to highlight the need to expand
access to justice through pro bono civil legal services.
During the luncheon, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht
welcomed attendees, and Justice Eva Guzman invited Austin lawyer William O.
Whitehurst, past president of the State Bar of Texas, to share his
experiences with the IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts) program,
celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Whitehurst has served
as a member of the State Bar of Texas Pro Bono College for more than 20
years.
Justice Eva Guzman, the Court’s access to justice liaison, announced the
creation of the Legacy Challenge: Reserves to Preserve Justice campaign in
which funds remaining in officeholder accounts are designated for access to
justice. Former Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson made the initial donation
for the campaign and was recognized with an inaugural award named in his
honor.
According to the University of North Texas Survey Research Center, Texas
lawyers provide 2.24 million to 2.56 million hours – or the equivalent of
$500 million – of free legal or indirect services to the poor. Even so,
there is a large unmet need. It is estimated that there is only one legal
aid lawyer for every 11,000 Texans who qualify for legal aid.
Harold F. Kleinman Award
The TAJF presented the prestigious Harold F. Kleinman Award, named after the
first chair of the Foundation, to the State Bar of Texas. The State Bar of
Texas played a crucial role in the creation of the Foundation 30 years ago
and has continued to support its efforts to ensure access to justice for all
Texans. State Bar President Trey Apffel, President-elect Allan DuBois and
Executive Director Michelle Hunter accepted the award on behalf of the Bar.
Access to Justice Award
During the luncheon the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of
Texas was recognized for its continued financial support. The Section has
contributed $245,000 to the TAJF for civil legal services since 2007.
Legislative Hero Awards
The Texas Access to Justice Commission and Foundation launched the
Legislative Hero Award program in 2010 to recognize legislators who, through
their efforts, have significantly advanced access to justice in Texas by
assisting with the appropriation of funds and/or other substantive
activities related to the provision of legal aid in the state. Former State
Senator Robert Duncan and Reps. Senfronia Thompson and Sarah Davis were
recognized with this prestigious award at today’s luncheon. Former State Senator Duncan was elected to District 84 in the Texas House in 1992. He served as president pro tempore of the Texas Senate during the 81st Legislative Session. During his tenure, he served as chair of the State Affairs Committee and as a member of the Natural Resources, Higher Education, Finance, and Education Committees.
Texas
Monthly has five times named him among the state’s best legislators. In July
2014, he became chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. He was
raised in Vernon, Texas. Rep.
Thompson is serving her 20th term in the Texas House of
Representatives. She serves as chair of the Local and Consent Calendars
Committee. She is on the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee,
Licensing & Administrative Procedures Committee, and Redistricting
Committee.
During her legislative career, Rep. Thompson has received numerous awards,
including the Legislator of the Year Award from the Texas Family Law
Foundation, and she was named one of the Top 10 Best Legislators by Capitol
Inside and Texas Tribune. She is a native of Houston. Rep.
Sarah Davis is serving her second term in the Texas House of
Representatives. She currently serves on the Public Health, Calendars, and
Appropriations Committees and serves as secretary of the Women’s Health
Caucus. She was recognized with a “Civil Justice Leadership Award” for work
in the 82nd legislative session. Rep. Davis is an ex-officio
member of the Texas Access to Justice Commission. She is a native of Sugar
Land, Texas.
Other Awards
Also recognized were the Prime Partner Banks who provide extraordinary
interest rates through the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA)
program. Independent Bank, PlainsCapital Bank and Preston State Bank
received the Prime Partners in Justice Award for their participation in the
program.
A complete list of Texas events for Pro Bono Week can be found by visiting:
http://www.probono.net/celebrateprobono/event-map/
# # # The Texas
Access to Justice Foundation, created by the Supreme Court of Texas in
1984, is the largest 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 more than 100,000
Texas families each year. For more information, please visit: www.teajf.org. Contact: Kimberly Schmitt512-320-0099, ext. 104 kschmitt@teajf.org
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