ATHENS-For those who cannot afford an attorney The City of Athens as declared
Steve Croomes and Mayor Ronnie Marks
October 20 through 26 as Pro Bono Week in Athens. The honorable Mayor Ronnie Marks signed the proclamation and you may read the entire proclamation below:
WHEREAS, last year one in every four of the 821,268 Alabamians living in poverty experienced legal problems, with the majority of these civil problems being consumer issues (creditor harassment, utility non-payment, bankruptcy issues), health issues (Medicaid, government insurance, nursing home), family law issues (divorce, child support/custody, abuse), employment issues (unemployment benefits, pension, lost job), and housing issues (unsatisfactory repairs, foreclosure, eviction, poor living conditions); and
WHEREAS, 14% of the citizens in Athens live in poverty; and
WHEREAS each year the low-income citizens of Athens lack access to legal assistance for their legal problems that are often critical to their safety and independence, forcing them to resolve complex legal problems on their own; and
WHEREAS, the need for legal aid in Alabama is dire, since unlike in the criminal defense system, funding for low-income Alabamians who need civil legal assistance has not yet been met, with the consequences being a lack of access to justice which is devastating for the poor and which weakens our democratic society as a whole; and
WHEREAS, there are fewer than 60 paid legal aid lawyers to serve the more than 422,119 low-income households in the State of Alabama; and
WHEREAS, although 30% of the members of the Limestone County legal community donated their time and talents in free legal services each year, a huge unmet need for legal assistance remains for the disadvantaged in our area; and
WHEREAS, the State of Alabama continues to be impacted by the lingering national recession and high unemployment, resulting in significant budget cuts to numerous State programs and services, such indigent defense, and State agencies such as the judicial system; and
WHEREAS, as a result of these events and the continuing needs of Alabama’s residents, the demand for pro bono services by members of the Alabama State Bar has never been greater; and
WHEREAS, sponsored by the Alabama State Bar and its Pro Bono Celebration Task Force, with support from local bar associations statewide, Pro Bono Week 2013, from October 20th to 26th, 2013, will educate the public about the extensive work Alabama lawyers are doing donating their time to improve the lives of vulnerable members of our community, and will encourage more individuals in the legal community to get involved in pro bono work and financially support the legal aid system; and
WHEREAS, Pro Bono Week 2013 will feature legal aid clinics throughout the State, assisting Alabamians who greatly need legal assistance but cannot afford to pay for that help, and will also feature service projects throughout the State of Alabama helping lawyers and law students make volunteer connections with legal aid organizations serving Alabamians:
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF ATHENS, does hereby proclaim October 20-26, 2013 to be PRO BONO WEEK, and urge all Athens residents to recognize the contributions of our legal community helping those most in need.
DATED this the 18th day of October, 2013.
