Giving a voice to those who need it most
Advocacy Hub
Our Advocacy Hub houses information about the impact of our advocacy, policy papers on key topics, and advocacy campaigns where we need your voice.
We unite leaders and bring together stakeholders to drive civil justice reform before the General Assembly, Judiciary and the Governor and executive agencies. There is no right to counsel in most types of civil legal matters, so Marylanders who cannot afford to hire an attorney may seek help from a civil legal aid or pro bono attorney. But there are too few and the demand too high, so most Marylanders who need civil legal help must navigate their case on their own, with less than optimal outcomes.
For these reasons, we advocate to increase public funding for civil legal aid and expand the right to counsel in civil legal matters because these solutions are proven to break down barriers in the civil justice system.
2024 Legislative Priorities
A2JC’s top legislative priority for the 2024 legislative session is ensuring life-saving civil legal aid funding.
The Governor’s Renters’ Rights and Housing Stabilization Act of 2024, HB693/ SB481, is the only mechanism during the 2024 legislative session to fund civil legal aid. There is an urgent need for $14.6M in funding to implement the ACE law and the other life-saving work of civil legal aid organizations. The bill raises the filing fee in eviction cases, prohibits the pass through of the fees to the tenant, and uses 50% of the revenue generated from increased fees to fund MLSC and civil legal aid.
We urge a FAVORABLE VOTE on the bill and to:
- keep the fee increase to $100;
- prohibit passing the fee to the tenants; and
- retain 50% of the revenue for MLSC to fund civil legal aid to ensure $14.6M in urgent funding.
Want to know the impact of the civil justice system by county?
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