Message from the President
Last fall I had the chance to speak to law students at Florida State University and to the Tallahassee Bar Association, and it was such a pleasure to hear how appreciated The Florida Bar Foundation is in Tallahassee for its support of the local legal aid community.
In turn, I was impressed with the Tallahassee Bar Association’s exemplary commitment to pro bono service, which is, in fact, a requirement of membership.
INSIDE
- Paul Doyle Justice Center dedicated as Florida Legal Services headquarters
- Help for Floridians lost in the health-care system
- Legislators urged to support Florida Civil Legal Assistance Act in 2010
- Keeping the developmentally disabled out of prison
- Florida Justice Summit explores alternatives to new prisons
- Foundation welcomes new directors
- Speaking of Justice Home page
At FSU, I received lots of gratitude for Foundation
support of the law school’s civil clinic and the Center for the Advancement of Human Rights, which was recently funded by the Foundation to develop a plan to combat human trafficking in Florida.
While in the capital I was reminded of the vital importance of the support of our legislators, who signed into law the Florida Access to Civil Legal Assistance Act in 2002, which authorizes state funding for civil legal assistance. Sixty-four legislators co-sponsored the act, which was passed unanimously by each subcommittee that reviewed the bill and received only one dissenting vote before the full Legislature.
Since that time, many legislators have supported funding for FACLA each year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for bringing Florida into the company of the vast majority of states that provide state funding for legal assistance for the poor.
Sen. Mike Fasano and Rep. Richard Glorioso played key roles in securing $1 million in funding for FACLA during last year’s legislative session. The funds support the work of Florida’s legal aid organizations, which are confronting increased demand from Floridians facing job loss, bankruptcy, foreclosure, domestic violence and other civil legal matters.
We will be counting on our legislators to support our request for increased FACLA funding in the 2010 legislative session. More funding is needed to meet the needs of the thousands of Floridians suffering the effects of the recession. If you have the opportunity, please tell your local legislators how important FACLA’s support is to your local legal aid organization. And if they tell you they support FACLA, please thank them.
- Florida Bar Foundation President Adele I. Stone, Esq.