Closing the Justice Gap

Our courts face a crisis of access. Eighty percent of low income people have trouble obtaining legal representation or otherwise accessing the civil court system to protect their property, family, and livelihood. The foreclosure crisis exemplifies how this lack of access can lead to financial losses that are felt across communities and the country.

In order to close this “justice gap,” the Brennan Center aims to improve the effectiveness of the civil justice system to better serve all, starting with ensuring access to legal services and improving court procedures in foreclosure cases.

To read about the program’s latest work, read the latest Justice Update e-newsletter here.

Sign up to receive the Justice Update here.

Recent Research

Is Anyone Not a Cop In Favor of "Civil Forfeiture" Laws?
Andrew Cohen

Law enforcement should be everyone’s burden, through taxes, and not just the burden of the poor saps who happen to wander down the wrong road in Texas and become the victims of uniformed pirates.

August 9, 2013
Justice for All
Closing the Justice Gap
Brennan Center Applauds OMB Effort to Streamline Federal Grant Process
Nicole Fortier, Inimai M. Chettiar

The Brennan Center supports the OMB's proposal to streamline all federal grant processes into a uniform model and applauds the their efforts to hold government spending accountable.

May 30, 2013
Justice for All
Reducing Mass Incarceration
Closing the Justice Gap

Recent Blog Posts

New York Law Mends Foreclosure Settlement Loophole

Robin Lipp

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signs law that provides important protections to foreclosure victims after years of delay tactics by banks.

August 2, 2013

Justice for All

Closing the Justice Gap

Public Housing Authorities Need Better Guidance on Dealing with Criminal Records

Meghna Philip

Improving access to stable housing is critical to supporting successful reentry of the formerly incarcerated. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development needs to provide stronger guidance to help minimize exclusions of those with criminal records from public housing.

April 22, 2013

Justice for All

Closing the Justice Gap

Recent Litigation

In re: Mortgage Foreclosure Cases (Amicus Brief)

The Brennan Center filed an amicus brief in the First Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the Rhode Island district court’s settlement conference process. The program, which is being challenged by some bankers, helps borrowers and lenders negotiate affordable loan modification that restore value to distressed mortgage loans and keep families in their homes.

January 14, 2013
Closing the Justice Gap
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.

June 20, 2011
Closing the Justice Gap

Brennan Center for Justice

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