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Marshall County is taking a bold step toward justice by establishing a dedicated Public Defender Department, complete with a new administrator and six attorneys to ensure fair legal representation for all.

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#MarshallCounty #IN #LegalAccess #PublicDefense #CitizenPortal
Commissioners establish public defender department and approve administrator and attorney contracts
The board adopted Ordinance 2025-31 to create a Public Defender Department and approved contracts for a contracted administrator (Mackenzie Brittenstein) and six public defenders, with pay structured to meet state reimbursement standards.
citizenportal.ai
December 24, 2025 at 7:14 AM
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Portland advocates are calling for urgent action to expand immigration legal services, warning that without support, families face the threat of separation and exploitation.

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#PortlandMultnomahCounty #OR #LegalAccess #CommunityEmpowerment
Immigrant advocates urge Portland to expand free legal services as demand spikes
Speakers from the New Portlanders Policy Commission and SOAR told council the city should expand access to immigration legal services now, describing skyrocketing demand, service backlogs and the risk that people will lose humanitarian protections without counsel.
citizenportal.ai
December 20, 2025 at 4:17 PM
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California's Victim Compensation Board faces delays in attorney payments for undocumented immigrants due to a new federal grant condition—what does this mean for victims seeking justice?

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#CA #CitizenPortal #LegalAccess #ImmigrantRights #VictimSupport
CalVCB: federal VOCA grant condition will delay attorney payments; appeals backlog and TRC NOFA updated
CalVCB told the board the accepted federal VOCA grant contains a condition disallowing attorney payments for those representing undocumented immigrants; staff will seek a state general‑fund carve‑out, which will delay attorney payments. The executive officer also reported appeals metrics, hires and a Trauma Recovery Center NOFA with a December close.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 3:27 PM
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Oregon's unrepresented-defendant crisis has seen a remarkable 25-30% drop thanks to innovative solutions, but major challenges loom in large counties like Multnomah.

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#OR #LegalAccess #CrisisIntervention
Oregon Public Defense Commission reports drop in unrepresented cases but cites capacity challenges
Interim OPDC executive director Ken Sancherkin said the state’s unrepresented‑defendant caseload has declined about 25–30% over the past year, crediting special dockets, consortia and trial‑team deployments; he warned that Multnomah County and other large jurisdictions still face capacity and data‑churn challenges.
citizenportal.ai
November 26, 2025 at 1:58 AM
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Massachusetts lawmakers are confronting the troubling reality of how contact with the criminal legal system traps immigrants in ICE detention, revealing severe issues like medical neglect and exorbitant attorney fees.

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#MA #CitizenPortal #LegalAccess #ImmigrantRights
Mass. hearing spotlights ICE detention conditions, attorney access and Plymouth contract
Testimony at a joint legislative hearing described how contact with the criminal legal system funnels people into ICE custody in Massachusetts; attorneys and advocates urged state action on oversight, budget choices and barriers such as costly remote-visit providers at Plymouth County.
citizenportal.ai
November 25, 2025 at 11:37 PM
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A recent panel revealed how the Bergeron standard can trap fathers in limited parenting time, highlighting the urgent need for clearer legal guidance and support.

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#LA #CitizenPortal #LouisianaFathers #LegalAccess #ParentingRights
Family-law panel warns Bergeron standard can lock in parenting time; task force explores education and statutory fixes
Family-law attorneys told the task force that the Bergeron standard—applied after a contested trial—creates a high hurdle to changing custody orders, and members discussed options including judge training, hearing officers, and potential statutory clarifications to reduce relitigation and improve fathers’ access to justice.
citizenportal.ai
November 25, 2025 at 10:21 PM
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ARCHIVE: SHU Inmates Can't Communicate with Lawyers at FCI Sheridan, OR #FCISheridan #InmateRights #LegalAccess #CriminalJustice #PrisonReform
SHU Inmates Can't Communicate with Lawyers at FCI Sheridan, OR
Nobody should have to file a pro-se motion to compel access to his own legal counsel but I did just ... #fcisheridan #richardives #shu #liars #tomshort
copblaster.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:01 PM
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The Law Champ expands Spanish-language legal resources, ensuring comprehensive support for accident victims in Rio Grande Valley. Bilingual legal services break down communication barriers for Spanish speakers seeking justice. #LegalAccess #Justice
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November 25, 2025 at 6:04 PM
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Long Beach is taking a monumental step towards justice by approving nearly $2 million in funding to expand legal services for low-income immigrants through the Long Beach Justice Fund!

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#LongBeachLosAngelesCounty #CA #CitizenPortal #CommunitySupport #LegalAccess
Long Beach approves Justice Fund contract with Public Counsel to expand immigrant legal services
The City Council approved a contract to make the Long Beach Justice Fund operational with Public Counsel as the service provider, using nearly $2 million in FY26 funding to expand legal and wraparound services for low‑income immigrant residents.
citizenportal.ai
November 23, 2025 at 5:24 PM
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The board has just voted to set the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination passing score at 616—what does this mean for future lawyers in Washington?

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#WA #CitizenPortal #LegalAccess #EquityInLaw #EducationReform
Board adopts NextGen UBE passing score equivalent to current 266 (616)
The board voted to recommend a 616 minimum passing score on the NextGen UBE — equivalent to the current 266 — and will submit the recommendation to the court for its December en banc consideration. Two governors dissented; two were absent.
citizenportal.ai
November 21, 2025 at 3:32 AM
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The surge in eligibility for New York City's Right to Counsel program has outpaced funding, leading to a dramatic decrease in full representation for tenants in housing court.

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#NY #CitizenPortal #EvictionReform #LegalAccess #TenantRepresentation #NewYorkHousing
IBO: right‑to‑counsel eligibility has surged while funding stalled, driving fall in full representation
The Independent Budget Office told the Council that eligible cases for universal access to counsel grew sharply between 2017 and 2024 while city spending did not keep pace. IBO reported longer case lengths, elimination of rollover counting in 2023, and a shift toward more brief assistance and fewer full representations.
citizenportal.ai
November 1, 2025 at 7:22 PM
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House Bill 1934 just passed unanimously, clarifying the “right to access” in Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Attorneys Act and limiting access to agency records for civil discovery!

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#PA #CitizenPortal #LegalAccess #CivicAccountability #PennsylvaniaAttorneys
Committee unanimously advances bill clarifying right-to-access in Commonwealth Attorneys Act
House Bill 1934, which adds a definition of “right to access” to the Commonwealth Attorneys Act to limit access to agency records for civil discovery unless the agency is a party represented by the Attorney General, passed unanimously in committee.
citizenportal.ai
October 26, 2025 at 8:29 PM
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Washington State Bar Association leaders are uniting to tackle the critical access-to-justice gap, proposing a new task force to explore innovative community-based solutions.

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#WA #CitizenPortal #CivicInnovation #LegalAccess #CommunityJustice
State Bar governors back exploring task force to study access-to-justice gap
At a roundtable, members of the Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors supported exploring a work group to study community-based responses to the access-to-justice gap and coordinate with the Access to Justice Board; a straw poll was nearly unanimous to pursue the idea.
citizenportal.ai
October 24, 2025 at 5:46 AM
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Chandler is facing an alarming eviction crisis, with over 3,600 filings expected this year, and a community advocate is calling for urgent legal support to protect vulnerable families.

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#ChandlerMaricopaCounty #AZ #CitizenPortal #CommunitySupport #ChandlerEvictions #LegalAccess
Advocate warns Chandler faces eviction surge, urges emergency legal aid funding
A certified community legal advocate told the council Chandler is on track for more than 3,600 eviction filings this year and urged immediate funding for eviction‑prevention legal services and a right‑to‑counsel pilot. The presenter said her organization's application for funding was denied and that AZ Send received about $300,000 for services.
citizenportal.ai
October 18, 2025 at 3:14 PM
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New Courts, New Hope in Maharashtra

#JusticeForAll #RuralIndia #CJI #LegalAccess #GovernmentReforms #SocialJustice
October 14, 2025 at 7:31 AM
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Massachusetts is reshaping the legal landscape by amending the definition of indigency—find out how this could impact justice for many!

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#MA #CitizenPortal #LegalAccess #EquityInLaw #SocialJustice
Massachusetts Senate amends indigency definition in Senate Bill 1037
Legislation updates criteria for defining indigency in Massachusetts legal proceedings
citizenportal.ai
October 1, 2025 at 7:00 PM
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Catch our latest #ProofOverPrecedent episode and get a law student perspective on pro se litigants and their barriers in the U.S. justice system. buff.ly/mpg2pKN #AccessToJustice #LegalAccess
September 23, 2025 at 12:15 PM
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The Utah Court of Appeals made headlines as it convened at Southern Utah University, tackling a pivotal case that could reshape the rights of incarcerated individuals.

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#UT #CitizenPortal #JusticeReform #LegalAccess #CivicAccountability
Utah Court of Appeals Holds Special Session at Southern Utah University
Judges Orme, Kenny, and Oliver host court session at SUU with broader community engagement.
citizenportal.ai
September 19, 2025 at 6:39 AM
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The Clayton Equity Commission is working to create a comprehensive resource list to help residents navigate immigration challenges and access vital legal support.

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#MO #CitizenPortal #ClaytonCommunity #LegalAccess #ImmigrationSupport #CommunityResources
Equity Commission discusses posting immigration resources on Clayton website
Equity Commission plans to list immigration attorneys and resources on Clayton's website.
citizenportal.ai
September 12, 2025 at 8:00 PM
citizenptnewsny.bsky.social
Residents in Clinton are sounding the alarm over legal tactics that threaten to stifle community voices and engagement.

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#ClintonOneidaCounty #NY #CivicEngagement #CitizenPortal #CommunityVoices #LegalAccess #ClintonCommunity
Residents Raise Concerns Over Legal Tactics at Hyde Park Planning Board Meeting
Community members express fear of intimidation from legal filings affecting civic engagement.
citizenportal.ai
August 29, 2025 at 4:08 AM
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Can't afford legal help? AI is changing the game for #legalaccess. New tools are making justice available to everyone, not just those with deep pockets. Discover how AI is democratizing legal information: https://to.dtsw.ca/LegalTechRevolution-10 #AIforJustice #LegalRights
August 23, 2025 at 12:30 PM
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In a tense St. Louis County meeting, Chester Cullen's emotional plea over a costly property dispute reveals a deeper struggle for justice and accountability in local governance.

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#LouisCounty #MN #CitizenPortal #PublicEngagement #LegalAccess #StLouisCountyPropertyRights
Chester Cullen addresses county board over property dispute and legal challenges
Chester Cullen speaks at hearing about ongoing property issues and court rulings.
citizenportal.ai
August 14, 2025 at 12:25 AM
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Urgent calls for reform echo through Los Angeles as community advocates demand faster U Visa certifications to protect crime victims from deportation risks.

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#LosAngelesCityLosAngelesCounty #CA #CitizenPortal #CivilRightsReform #LegalAccess #VictimSupport #LosAngelesImmigration
Thai Community Development Center urges LA to expedite U visa certification for crime victims
Community advocates call for improved access to U visa certifications amid rising deportation risks.
citizenportal.ai
August 2, 2025 at 7:20 PM
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Massachusetts is on the verge of transforming its labor laws, empowering employees to fight back against unpaid wages and expanding the Attorney General's jurisdiction for legal support across state lines.

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#MA #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #LegalAccess #LaborProtection
Massachusetts Committee Advances H1916 Bill to Protect Employee Rights in Workplace Complaints
Massachusetts bill H1916 enables attorney general to support employee complaints across states.
citizenportal.ai
August 1, 2025 at 2:44 AM
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Boston is investing $2 million to empower its immigrant community through vital legal access and educational programs—transforming lives and fostering racial equity.

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#BostonCitySuffolkCounty #MA #CitizenPortal #LegalAccess #EducationSupport #RacialEquity #BostonImmigrants
Boston Council Allocates $200K for Immigrant Community Support Grants
Boston council outlines $200K funding for immigrant legal access and educational programs.
citizenportal.ai
July 30, 2025 at 10:06 PM