Justice
The Justice Program fights to secure our nation's promise of “equal justice for all.”
The American justice system is broken. Our courts are the province of the wealthy: private counsel is expensive, civil legal aid programs are underfunded and access to programs is unduly restricted, and pro se litigants struggle in court systems too underfunded to provide basic — but critical — support or adequate language access services. Too often, technical rules impede legitimate claims. In criminal proceedings, decades of policy choices have forced the poor to rely on lawyers who have meager resources and overwhelming caseloads. After cases end, the criminal justice system often extends punishment, as people emerge from the criminal justice system owing massive “user fees.” The poor, communities of color and new immigrants bear the brunt of these systemic failures.
The Brennan Center's Justice Program pursues justice system reforms designed to reduce the “justice gap,” the distance between the nation’s promise of equal justice and the reality that people of color and low-income litigants face in our courts. We work to achieve a justice system in which the ability of people to rely on courts and other agencies to secure the rule of law and prevent harms is not controlled by wealth, ethnicity, immigration status or the community from which they come.
News and opinion pieces that praise, attack, or discuss free and low-cost civil legal aid. Also see reports about civil legal aid the media doesn't cover. Low-income individuals and families, children, consumers, the elderly, the disabled, immigrants, workers, prisoners, veterans, and people reliant on government benefits or seeking health care share concerns about access to justice that are frequently covered in the E-lert.
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2011 Community Oriented Defender Network Conference
held July 20-22 at NYU School of Law
The Community Oriented Defender Network is a coalition of public defender programs united by the view that the representation of individuals charged with crimes can be made more effective by a deep engagement of defenders with the communities in which their clients live.
DeWolfe v. Richmond (Amicus Brief)
The Brennan Center participated as a friend of the court in an important right to counsel case pending before Maryland’s highest court, which will determine how early in a criminal case counsel must be provided to a low-income person facing criminal charges.
The Brennan Center is challenging funding restrictions put on organizations that receive Global AIDS Act funding.
Turner v. Rogers (Amicus Brief)
The Brennan Center, along with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Southern Center for Human Rights, the National Legal Aid and Defender Association and the American Civil Liberties Union, filed an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court in support of a petitioner seeking the right to counsel in civil contempt proceedings where he or she faces incarceration.
Obama Promises Accountability for Mortgage Crisis
The president announced an important new partnership, chaired by New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, to investigate our nation's mortgage crisis.
A Call to Albany: Restore Foreclosure Funding
Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal failed to include a much-needed restoration of the $25 million appropriation for foreclosure prevention assistance, which last year’s budget eliminated.
New Report Highlights Successes, Challenges in Foreclosure Mediation
As our nation’s foreclosure crisis has deepened one critical response has been the expansion of mediation programs across the country.
Illustrations by Risko
White House to Honor Brennan Center Justice Program Acting Co-Director October 13
On October 13, Attorney General Eric Holder will present an award to Laura Abel, recognizing her and her colleagues as Champions of Change for dedicating their professional lives to closing the justice gap in America.
John F. Kowal Named Brennan Center VP of Programs
The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is pleased to welcome John F. Kowal as Vice President of Programs, a new position at the think tank and advocacy organization. In this role, Kowal will be responsible for coordinating and guiding the organization’s programmatic work, including its Democracy, Justice, and Liberty and National Security Programs, as well as its Washington, D.C. office.
Brennan Center Names John Anthony Butler as New COO
The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is pleased to welcome John Anthony (Tony) Butler as its new Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Butler will be responsible for all of the organization’s administrative, financial and operational activities, as well as oversee its strategic planning process.
City Council Testimony on New York City’s Foreclosure Crisis
The Brennan Center testified before the New York City Council on systemic problems in the ongoing mortgage foreclosure crisis and its effect on New York City Neighbordhoods.
Brennan Center Weighs in on DHS Plan for Communicating with LEP Individuals
In response to an announcement earlier this month that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is drafting a plan to provide limited English proficient (LEP) individuals with access to DHS services, the Brennan Center submitted comments urging the agency to provide interpreters in immigration and citizenship interviews.
Brennan Center, Civil Rights Groups Oppose House Measure to Gut Attorneys’ Fee Awards
In a letter to Senate leadership, the Brennan Center and 13 other access to justice and civil rights organizations urged the Senate not to adopt a measure that would gut the ability of seniors, veterans and others to obtain counsel in cases against the federal government.
New York Must Keep Helping Homeowners
New Yorkers should demand adequate legal representation and counseling for our neighbors facing foreclosure. The investment will pay off for all of us.
Supreme Court Preview, Second Session: Access to Justice, National Security, and Civil Liberties
In advance of the second session of the Supreme Court's 2011 term, the Brennan Center calls attention to five cases involving important issues of access to justice, national security, and civil liberties.
Supreme Court Preview: Access to Justice
In advance of the Supreme Court opening its 2011 term, the Brennan Center calls attention to four cases raising important issues of access to justice.