As part of its efforts to curtail government spending, Congress recently cut funding to Legal Services Corp., a non-profit group that funds more than 100 state programs that provide legal aid to the poor. So far, the government has slashed nearly $16 million from the organization’s budget; next year, they want to cut an additional $104 million.
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It’s admirable that the government is searching for ways to balance our ballooning national budget. But, once again, our elected officials are looking in the wrong places and cutting much needed services.
Legal aid services around the country help low-income individuals with their civil (non-criminal) legal needs. Legal aid offices around the country handle cases that involve housing matters: unfair evictions, foreclosures and more. Custody and child-support cases are also common and the services legal aid provides have helped innumerable families over the years.
With so many Americans unemployed or under-employed and unable to meet their financial obligations, it stands to reason that the need for legal aid is more important than ever. Indeed, the number of people eligible for such services has increase nearly 30-percent in the last three years. Why then, is the government taking away from this organization at a time when it should be expanding?
Balancing the nation’s budget is critical, but it cannot and should not be done at the expense of the poor. If the government wants to slash spending, it should take a magnifying glass to the inflated $1 trillion defense budget. Until the U.S. can figure out a sustainable way to lift its people out of poverty, the country has a duty to provide services to help the poor. Legal aid is one of many programs that should be immune to Congress’ budget raiding ways.
Of course, the holes in the national justice gap are something the private sector must address as well. More lawyers need to provide pro bono—free—services to low-income individuals. Lawyers who grew up poor should feel a sense of obligation to give back to the communities they grew up in. Some law firms do require attorneys to contribute a certain number of pro bono hours each year; we need more to follow suit and do the same. If the government doesn’t see the importance of legal aid services—especially at this time in history—then our business community must step forward and help ease the burden.
(Judge Greg Mathis is a national figure known for his advocacy campaigns for equal justice. His inspirational life story of a street youth who rose from jail to judge has provided hope to millions who watch him on the award-winning television court show “Judge Mathis” each day.)