The 22 judges on Genesee County's circuit, probate and district court benches who have achieved 100 percent support for the State Bar of Michigan Access to Justice Development Campaign were recognized by State Bar President Alfred M. Butzbaugh at the April 17 meeting of the Genesee County Bar Association in Flint. The Access to Justice Development Campaign is a State Bar led effort to increase funding for non-profit law programs that provide civil legal help to low-income people throughout the state.

"The State Bar recognizes that access to the courts for all people, regardless of economic status, is critical to the overall administration of justice," said President Butzbaugh, a St. Joseph lawyer. Butzbaugh's personal vision, with support from the State Bar of Michigan, the Michigan State Bar Foundation, and legal services providers, led to the formation of the Development Campaign. "With 100 percent participation from this bench, we are sure to draw strong support from the lawyers who practice here. I am thankful to each of these fine judges for their leadership in this Campaign."

Genesee County Bar Association President Francine Cullari personally urged each of the judges to contribute to the Access to Justice Fund. "I want judges to support the concept first. If all judges support the Campaign, lawyers will be inclined to support it as well," she said. Cullari feels strongly that the ATJ Fund should be the charity of choice for the legal profession. "If it's not lawyers who will support access to our justice system, who will it be?" Cullari's efforts will be boosted by State Bar Commissioner and Flint lawyer Randolph Piper, who has agreed to lead the ATJ Campaign in Genesee County.

The Access to Justice Fund supports civil legal aid programs that provide legal help for low-income people with problems that affect family safety, housing and consumer and medical care needs. Unlike the criminal defense system, there is no constitutional guarantee that funding will be provided-in any amount-for poor people with civil legal needs, even though these critical needs can often affect serious matters. In Michigan, there are approximately 1.2 million people at or below poverty level, and another 300,000 are under the legal aid eligibility level of 125 percent of the poverty level. These low-income families include retirees on fixed incomes, abused women, neglected children, abandoned mothers, laid-off workers, people with disabilities, the working poor and many others who struggle daily for survival, independence, and dignity. Last year, Michigan legal aid and pro bono advocates assisted over 75,000 low-income families and individuals. Nearly 13,000 of those people were in the Genesee and surrounding counties.