Massachusetts Bar Association Access To Justice Awards 2021, Online Youtube for a live event on 3/9 at 5:30 pm
Inspiring attorneys who want to serve the people most in need and deserve access to being heard and defended.
Teniola M. Adeyemi received the Prosecutor Award. Joel H. Feldman of Springfield MA has helped many who could not afford services with his firm. Eve Shatz founded the Berkshire Center for Justice in Great Barrington MA to fill a niche of those in need of legal representation who do not qualify for help from other resources and cannot afford it otherwise.
She has worked over many years to serve the Berkshre County residents with a special model of social services and legal support. Luke Ryan received the Defender Award which helped 15K defendants not be convicted on drug charges based on evidence that was found to be tampered with so not accurate.
Brian Kiwanuka held the Rising Star Award for work serving elders and youth, working less than 7 years.Todd & Weld Attorneys of Boston received the Pro Bono Award for Law Firms. They have been doing work for thirty years allowing for some pro bono work along the way as a form of 'giving back.' All recipients shared moving comments about their commitment and vision to helping others to expand access to being heard and obtaining justice as much as possible.
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognized the Boston University Civil Litigation & Justice Program which has been going strong for fifty years. Forty students in the program practice serving in many cases and often going into communities to continue to serve in the legal aid roles. Respecting each person and treating each person civilly was a central tenant. The legacy of one of the senior members of the program, Bob.(Robert) Burdick..a quiet legal giant was honored as well. He helped set forth that mentally ill patients have the right to refuse psych medication. Bob promoted recognizing the rights of each client even if one had a difference of opinion about what one should do. He saw the potential in the law...as well as a rebel. Bob saw the program as a 'poverty law clinic.' Every client was treated with dignity and respect to set the tone of what would ideally happen throughout the legal system to address structural inequities in our society.
Then Attorney Dahlia Lithwick spoke as the key note speaker. She wished all the recipients well. She shared that the pandemic highlighted the difficulties that have always been here about injustice in our systems. She thanked all of the advocates for the years of reform and greater justice for all.
She noted that respect for the law have also been shaken and need repair. Ms. Lithwick has been covering the Supreme Court as a journalist. Changes in the Federal Courts in recent years and Supreme Court were touched upon.
The Supreme Court adjusted to having same day audio and having transparency about what transpires. It's important to understand the hard work of hashing out the oral arguments which can 'recalibrate how the public sees the courts.' With telemonitoring Justices speak to the matters. Shining light on a problem one didn't know about...can help problems be discovered and reforms pursued.
There are shadow docket opinions show there can be division on partisan lines. The lower courts are not able to be guided in terms of what the reasoning is or what the holding of the case is. Once courts know they are being watched and monitored, they tend to change and more advocacy can address concerns.
On CBS, Judge Robart's ruling about a travel ban which was not approved by Trump, threats erupted against them. The rule of law based on facts held fast. The intimidation of judges and the law did not win out. The legal process can prevail at the state level on up standing up for civility and more she shared to help stabilize this country. Insisting on truth can play a critical role in keeping the system from crumbling.
She also spoke of RBG, Ruth Bader Ginsburg in many respects including the need to respect the first ranks of female attorneys and males who opened doors and made a place for more women to be part of the system. "Law is a community in which we can find our way back to each other, back to truth and what justice means." RBG created awareness of women across the spectrum of economics, cultural norms, gender fluidity and honoring everyone and how they matter. Dahlia Lithwick said that this administration is working to follow in RBG's footsteps to include more people and have the courts and laws reflect the wider span of society. She thanked the advocates honored and all in the trenches and to encourage that all levels of justice reflect this mission of increasing access to all.
PS I would offer that learning what David Mandel and Ruth Stearms discusses on Safe&TogetherInstitute.com which is reaching out to educate all aspects of social and legal care and reform to support victims of abuse and their children. Also resources on Battered Mothers Custody Conference and CA Protective Parents Association can help more young people and the people in roles monitoring and running cases understand the serious need for reform.
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