On March 18, 1963, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Gideon v . Wainwright that the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of counsel in criminal cases is a fundamental right, essential to a fair trial, as provided by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The court battle leading up to this ruling was truly a case of David v. Goliath. In recent years, there has been a push to advocate for a “Civil Gideon” – the right to legal counsel in civil cases. If Civil Gideon should ever come to pass as a universal Constitutional right, the legacy of Clarence Earl Gideon, whose own case was decided on this day 59 years ago, would be fulfilled for all so that “justice should be the same, in substance and availability, without regard to economic status” and irrespective of the type of offense.
Read moreMind the Gap and #BreakTheBias during Women's History Month 2022
March is Women’s History Month, and to kick off this month of recognition of women’s achievements and contributions, but also of the barriers that women continue to face, we would like to highlight the latest information on the gender wage gap.
Read moreThe 3G Sunset: Implications for Low-Income Americans
All of the major cellphone carriers — AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile — are planning to shut-down their older 3G networks this year. Millions of people in the United States who use 3G phones and other 3G devices will be unable to text, make calls, or even reach 911. If you are currently relying on a 3G network for your devices – phones, home security systems, vehicle navigation services, personal medical alert devices, or some e-readers – you will be affected by this change. To encourage the transition to newer devices, some service providers are offering substantial discounts and/or trade-in options on new smartphones. However, even discounted phones may be financially out-of-reach for many users. Marginalized or low-income users and the elderly, as well as rural and prepaid mobile customers, will feel the impact of this change.
Read moreToward the Beloved Community: MLK Day 2022
This coming Monday, January 17th, 2022, is MLK Day, a federal holiday that recognizes the birthdate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and commemorates his life and work as a civil rights activist and leader.
Read moreWorld AIDS Day: 40 Years of Progress
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the release of the MMWR report that first documented what later become known as the AIDS epidemic and to observe World AIDS Day, the American Bar Association, will present HIV/AIDS at 40: Perspectives on the Struggle. This free, non-CLE webinar will take place on December 1, 2021 at 3:00pm CST and will offer “a retrospective on the legal, social, and medical struggles and successes associated with HIV/AIDS over the last 40 years.” The ABA also offers an HIV/AIDS Webinar Series “to identify and address legal policy issues affecting or affected by the epidemic domestically and internationally, with a view to ensuring the rights of all concerned are respected and protected.”
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