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- MSBA Bar Foundation accepting grant applications until Feb. 15. http://t.co/SQnRmx22
- Nominations Sought for MSBA David Graven Public Service Award. http://t.co/AneqngmB
- Eight Attorneys named MSBA Certified Criminal Law Specialists. http://t.co/diXHlWsx
- MSBA is accepting applications until Jan. 27 for the Certified Real Property Law Specialist exam. http://t.co/mER604G0
- The MSBA has certified Victor E. Lund as a Civil Trial Specialist. http://t.co/gdtJefA0
Details of committee proposals released
The Senate and House Judiciary committees have released their initial recommendations. The Senate proposal includes a 1% increase for the courts (to fund pension and health care obligations), and a 2.4% increase for public defense. But it recommends a 6.4% cut for civil legal services. The House proposal would also give the courts about a 1% [...]
Read MoreState justice system underfunded, overwhelmed
As Gov. Mark Dayton and the Legislature grapple with the state’s budget deficit, we believe that it is important for the public to know that our justice system is already underfunded, overwhelmed and in jeopardy, with our public defense system in crisis and backlogs and delays building in courts across the state. By: Paul Benshoof, Sheri [...]
Read MoreSo many reasons to be glad we’re not there
WI Gov.’s budget cuts into legal services for poor Civil legal service providers for poor people in Wisconsin are facing substantial cuts pending the inclusion of a budget proposal that eliminates all state money for those organizations. Part of Gov. Scott Walker’s 2011-13 budget reallocates money collected by the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation and distributed to [...]
Read MoreMinnPost: Minnesota’s resources for legal aid are drying up fast
LaVeda Pompey’s grandsons moved in with her a few years ago, along with a stack of papers with instructions on how to file for custody. The boys were safe and there was no pressing need to rush for custody, so she waited. In September things changed. Her daughter tried to transfer one grandson out of [...]
Read MoreCourt Leaders to Address ABA Task Force about Court Funding Crisis
Contact: Sandy Adkins Communications Specialist National Center for State Courts 757.259.1515 sadkins@ncsc.org Court Leaders to Address ABA Task Force about Court Funding Crisis Who: American Bar Association Task Force on Preservation of the Justice System What: Hearing on court funding crisis and access to justice problems When: Wednesday, Feb. 9, noon-5 p.m. Where: Atlanta Marriott [...]
Read MoreRemember to keep us posted!
Please let us know when you communicate with a legislator about Justice System funding. It helps our team keep track of our progress. We don’t need much – just your name, the legislator’s name, date of contact, and a sentence or two summarizing the legislator’s response. Send the summary to shirsh@mnbar.org. Thanks.
Read MoreHouse and Senate judiciary chairs fighting to protect the Justice System
From www.politicsinminnesota.com: [Rep. Steve] Smith, alongside the chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, Warren Limmer, has already indicated that he believes courts should not be considered for cuts given past reductions that have overburdened public defenders. “I consider the judiciary branch to be a high priority for our society,” Smith said. “The [...]
Read MoreCuts could mean justice denied
PAM LOUWAGIE, Star Tribune The wheels of justice are grinding slower and slower in Olmsted County — and across Minnesota. Counties are short of judges. Public defenders are overbooked. About 250 court positions around the state are vacant. Paperwork is stacking up. It’s taking longer to file orders for protection, get divorced, collect debts, even [...]
Read MoreCoalition Representatives to Testify Before Funding Divisions
Representatives of the Coalition to Preserve the Justice System will testify about the Justice System funding crisis at critical House and Senate committees on Tuesday, January 11 . Information on the time and locations of the hearings and on Coalition representatives to testify at each hearing is below. Tuesday, January 11; 8:15 a.m., Room 10, State Office [...]
Read More1000Supporters in the news!
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — With state government facing a $6.2 billion budget shortfall, Minnesota lawyers are campaigning to protect the justice system from further cuts. The initiative is called 1,000 Supporters. The Minnesota State Bar Association says it’s a group of more than 1,000 attorneys working to secure adequatefunding for the state’s courts, legal aid and [...]
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