Volume XIV, Issue I
January/February 2000

Equal Justice Coalition: Making 
"Equal Justice Under Law" a Reality

by Erin Hyppa

The Equal Justice Coalition (EJC) was created in 1995 in response to efforts aimed at eliminating federal and state funding for legal services. We believe in "equal justice under law" and continue to push for increased funding by educating elected officials, community leaders, the private bar and the general public. This is not just a problem for lawyers and judges. The constitution and our democratic system are based on the premise that everyone is entitled to equal justice, whether it be access to the courts or equal treatment within the justice system itself. Civil equal justice benefits all of us and it takes everyone's support to make it a reality.

While the EJC has been successful in retaining state and federal funding, the situation is now so dire that the Washington State Bar Association has declared a crisis in funding for civil legal services. Between 60-70 percent of low-income people and families who need direct legal representation on important civil legal problems (such as child custody, domestic violence, eviction/home foreclosure and illegal termination or mistreatment by employers) are unable to secure legal assistance. In addition to the thousands of individuals who are denied their day in court, the prevalence of racism and sexism compounds the unequal treatment of marginalized people in the justice system.

The EJC is the educational and advocacy arm of the Access to Justice Network. A small band of volunteers comprise the workgroup, which meets by-monthly to strategize and develop ideas to increase support for civil legal services. In addition to the work group, the EJC has over 50 member organizations, a steering committee of leaders in the legal community and a system of team captains. Team captains help convey the EJC's message to elected officials through the members of their team. Please join us in the fight for civil equal justice as a team captain, recipient of the legislative network alerts and/or a member of the workgroup.

Next summer, the EJC will embark upon its most ambitious campaign to date. Summer of Justice 2000 is a 78-day, statewide organizing and education campaign to get the EJC out of the law office, out of the State Legislature, and into local communities. We will travel throughout the state to talk to people about civil equal justice and how they can work for it in their local community. If you are interested in participating in Summer of Justice 2000, or volunteering with the Equal Justice Coalition, please contact Erin at (206) 447-8168 or http:www.equalj@ejc.org.

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