PSJD News Digest – July 19, 2024
Sam Halpert, NALP Director of Public Service Initiatives
Hello, interested public! A number of major stories this week on several fronts, including a new pro bono initiative for immigration attorneys, right-to-counsel programs in Pennsylvania and Los Angeles CA, budget news for public defenders in Maryland (bad news0 and DC (good news!), and an appeals court ruling with major implications for the Biden administration’s efforts to assist student borrowers navigating Public Service Loan Forgiveness. These stories and more are in the links below.
One more thing: I’ll be away from my desk for the next two weeks, so you can expect the next edition of this digest on August 9th.
Take care–and see you next month!
Sam
Editor’s Choice
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To boost lawyer numbers in ‘legal deserts,’ Arizona adopts apprentice plan for bar exam failers (Reuters; 18 Jul 2024)
Non-Profit & Government Management & Hiring
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What Supreme Court’s ‘Chevron’ Decision Means To Nonprofits (The NonProfit Times; 18 Jul 2024)
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State Dept. hopeful even a Trump administration would continue its hiring and reform efforts (Government Executive; 16 Jul 2024)
- How a Second Trump Term Could Turn Up the Heat on Higher Ed (Inside Higher Ed; 18 Jul 2024)
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Judiciary Weighs Guidance on Ethical Hiring for Law Clerks (Bloomberg Law; 16 Jul 2024)
Student Loans & Student Debt
Access to Justice – Civil & Economic
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Pa. launches right-to-counsel program with hopes of reducing evictions (WHYY; 18 Jul 2024)
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LA County leaders vote to give renters free eviction attorneys, a first in SoCal (LAist; 16 Jul 2024)
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Landlords push back against tenant right to counsel initiative in Bozeman (NBC Montana; 15 Jul 2024)
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ABA will partner with White House to recruit more pro bono immigration attorneys (ABA Journal; 18 Jul 2024)
Access to Justice – Criminal
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WA Supreme Court considers cutting public defender caseloads (The Seattle Times; 19 Jul 2024)
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[Vermont] County’s top prosecutor is navigating a severe staffing shortage (Addison County Independent; 18 Jul 2024)
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D.C. public defenders resolve $3 million shortfall, avoid staff furloughs (The Washington Post; 13 Jul 2024)
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‘A loss to humanity’: Maryland approves big cuts to program funding to head off looming budget shortfall (The Baltimore Sun; 17 Jul 2024)