Qwanz

Earlier this month Judge Lippman delivered a Law Day speech in Albany arguing for an even broader vision of justice, one that includes guaranteeing a lawyer for poor people in civil disputes where basic needs are at stake, like evictions and foreclosures. He plans to hold hearings around the state before unveiling a detailed plan next year. We applaud Judge Lippman’s new initiative. Equal justice demands adequate legal representation for all. That is especially important in tough times.

With the Supreme Court tackling such difficult topics as the going beyond the terms of prisoners who are still deemed, “sexually dangerous” and ruling on whether or not juveniles who did not commit murder should be given life imprisonment, it makes it more vital that something this basic—adequate counsel—is available to everyone.