 |
|
||
| |
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
The Simple, Great Thing of Justice “All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.” Sir Winston Churchill Each year, the new HBA president has the privilege to add to the incredible legacy of public service provided by the lawyers of this great city. This year, with your help, we will work toward making the simple, great thing of “justice” more of a reality for all of our citizens, and we will do so through our members’ inherent belief in duty, mercy, and hope. We will do so through four new initiatives. First, those who have devoted themselves through honor and duty to serve our country - our veterans - deserve to have access to the greatest justice system in the world. Harris County is home to over 300,000 veterans - the second largest veteran population of any county in America. There are thousands of veterans in the Houston area who need help. They need help fighting through a complicated disability benefits system. They need help with family, housing, consumer, probate, wills, bankruptcy and other legal matters, both large and small. Many are not financially well off. While veterans make up 10 percent of the population of Houston, they account for approximately 30 percent of our homeless population. There are roughly 4,000 homeless veterans in Houston. Three years ago, with the help of the Bierne Maynard & Parsons law firm, the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program began conducting a free legal clinic once a month at the VA Hospital. That program has been a big help, but it is just a start. This year, the HBA will expand our free legal clinics to every Friday at the VA Hospital. We will provide volunteer lawyers and a full time HVLP lawyer to ride circuit and provide legal counseling at the DeGeorge at Union Station and the U.S. Vets at Midtown Terrace, two facilities where veterans can permanently stay when recovering from disability, homelessness and addiction. We will also provide legal counseling at designated VFW and American Legion Posts, as well as provide volunteers and HVLP staff attorneys at musters and stand downs to provide legal assistance to those returning from service. There is a volunteer form on our Web site and in the Houston Bar Bulletin. Please consider giving a small amount of your time to our veterans. Our veterans have served us, and the HBA will serve them. Second, we will expand access to justice for the working poor by establishing Family Evening Court. Judge Doug Warne and Judge Frank Rynd, the previous and current Family Administrative Judges for Harris County, and District Clerk Theresa Chang and Sheriff Tommy Thomas have worked with the HBA to make this program a reality. Starting on September 9, 2008, once a month, a judge will volunteer his or her time at night to hear cases of persons with eligible uncontested family law matters who are pro se or who are represented by volunteer lawyers. Parties and volunteers will not need to miss work, and they can receive additional, streamlined attention. A family law specialist will be available to assist the process. Evening Court will also help relieve the crowding of the family court dockets during normal business hours. Third, through the help of the civil, criminal and family courts, we will further encourage lawyers to give their most precious gift – their time – to provide legal services to those who cannot afford them. Chief Administrative Judge Don Stricklin, with the cooperation of the other Harris County judges, has agreed to hold the first annual judicial pro bono awards ceremony at the courthouse in May, officially recognizing those law firms, lawyers, and corporations who have excelled in providing legal services to those in need. The recipients will be permanently recognized on plaques in the ready rooms of the four main courthouses. Mark Twain said: “One can live for two months on a good compliment.” Those who volunteer deserve our respect and our recognition. Fourth, the HBA has agreed to serve as a partner on the Executive Steering Committee of the Anna E. Casey Juvenile Justice Initiative. The Executive Committee will look at needed reforms in the Harris County juvenile detention system to improve our juvenile detention facilities, procedures and services. We must help our troubled youth, some of whom simply need a guiding hand, before they become hardened. These initiatives will require that we volunteer our time and talents. But time and again, the lawyers of Houston have proven they are a most generous and honorable group who live by our city’s “can do” culture. We proved it by our efforts to help those displaced by Hurricane Katrina, by giving over 5,000 units of blood annually, by building 11 Habitat for Humanity Homes, by conducting amazing book and clothing drives, by supporting The Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation, by tutoring and mentoring at schools, and most importantly by providing volunteer lawyers to the poor through the Equal Access to Justice Campaign. Together, we can make a positive difference. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your 2008-2009 president. I am truly humbled to have this opportunity, and I pledge to do my best to serve all of the lawyers of Houston.
|
