Maryland Legislature Considering Proposal to Boost Legal Services Funding Via Filing Fee Hikes
Our March 12 Public Interest News Bulletin contained a Baltimore Sun article reporting on a proposal in the state General Assembly to replenish legal services coffers by increasing a range of court filing fees. The Sun’s editorial blog backed the proposal last week. Today, the Washington Post’s editorial board chimes in, outlining the problems confronting the legal services community…
For the past 30 years, Maryland LSC has relied on interest from lawyer trust accounts for the bulk of its funding; in turn, it distributes the money to roughly 35 legal aid organizations throughout the state. In 2008, the group received some $6.7 million from this source, but because of historically low interest rates Maryland LSC projects that income will shrink to about $2 million in the coming year — a 70 percent decrease over 18 months. At the same time, some legal aid providers in the state report a 60 percent increase in the number of clients seeking help. While criminal defendants are guaranteed lawyers, those with civil issues do not have the same right and either must pay for their own lawyers or, if unable to do so, rely on legal aid organizations.
…and calling for the proposal’s passage:
This shortfall must be addressed immediately to provide poor Marylanders much-needed assistance. The Senate has passed a bill authorizing modest increases in filing fees on civil cases to benefit the legal aid groups; the House will soon take up the bill and should follow suit…. These relatively small increases could bring in as much as $9 million per year for legal aid and could make a world of difference to struggling families throughout the state.