. . . And a Law for Poor People
Commentary

To access the full article on The Nation's website, click here.

 

"Federally funded legal services lawyers for poor people have been operating with one hand tied behind their back since Newt Gingrich and his brand of Republicans took control of Congress in the mid-1990s. Now that we have a Democratic president and Congress, it is time to roll back the restrictions that federal money brings--constraints that lawyers for paying clients do not encounter. In his detailed budget request for the coming year, President Obama proposes to repeal the most onerous of the strictures--a welcome step. Congress is currently considering the president's proposals, and should enact them into law . . . .

 

Although we shouldn't overestimate the payoff from repealing the restrictions on the federally funded lawyers, it is significant. President Obama's proposals are important and should be enacted. The restrictions are meanspirited and punitive; they amount to a de facto violation of equal protection of the laws for low-income people. Hire a private lawyer and you'll get the whole kit of tools and remedies. But go to the legal services office, and you'll quickly find out that America thinks the poor are not as deserving as the rest of us." 

 

Peter Edelman is a professor of law at Georgetown Law Center and chair of the District of Columbia Access to Justice Commission.