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Access to Justice

"Every subject of the commonwealth ought to find a certain remedy, by having recourse to the laws, for all injuries or wrongs which he may receive in his person, property, or character. He ought to obtain right and justice freely, and without being obliged to purchase it; completely, and without any denial; promptly, and without delay; conformably to the laws."

—  Massachusetts Constitution, Article XI





Boston Bar Reports Favorable Development Re: Justice System Budget

Monday, April 30, 2012

Following months of zealous advocacy on behalf of adequate funding for our justice system, Boston Bar Association President Lisa C. Goodheart issued the following statement:

Amid serious concerns about inadequate funding for our justice system, the Boston Bar Association is pleased to report that the Massachusetts House of Representatives last night approved a budget providing additional funds for the Massachusetts Trial Courts and for the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC), the primary source of civil legal aid in the Commonwealth.  The continued advocacy of BBA members played an important role in spotlighting significant unmet needs.

A consolidated amendment provided an additional $6 million to the Trial Court, bringing its House appropriation up to $560 million. 

The House budget also provided an additional $1 million for civil legal services, bringing the MLAC appropriation up to $12 million. 

There are hurdles yet to be cleared. In the coming weeks, the Senate will be considering its own budget recommendations. As the budgeting process continues, the Boston Bar Association will continue to press for adequate funding for our justice system."

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The Issues

  • Legal Aid

    For decades, the BBA has advocated fiercely to safeguard adequate legal representation for the poor. When federal funding for legal services was threatened in the 1970s, then-president John G. Brooks called for the Bar to lead a "concentrated effort" to preserve civil and criminal legal representation for all. Today, the BBA works to guarantee fair representation through Volunteer Lawyers Project of the BBA, Greater Boston Legal Services and our partners at the Equal Justice Coalition. We collaborate nationally with our partners at the American Bar Association and Legal Services Corporation.

    We also co-sponsor the annual Walk to the Hill for Civil Legal Aid, in which we mobilize hundreds of law students and attorneys from all sectors to gather at the Massachusetts State House and lobby legislators for civil legal-aid funding.

  • Courts

    Massachusetts benefits from a fair and impartial judiciary that is free from political interference. As representatives of the legal profession, the BBA believes we are uniquely situated to understand the impact of the courts on the lives of every person in the Commonwealth. Our 1991 report, The Massachusetts Courts in Crisis: A Model for Reform (PDF), explains why the courts must have the tools to manage themselves and the ability to transfer personnel and resources between courts and departments.

    Open and accessible courts require adequate funding, and the BBA continues to explore the extent and impact of underfunding on access to justice. Without adequate resources, the courts cannot meet their constitutional responsibilities in criminal cases or serve as a reliable source of dispute resolution.

  • See More of Our Work

    For more information about our work in this area or to learn how to get involved, please email Kathleen Joyce, Director of Government Relations, at kjoyce@bostonbar.org.