The Michigan Supreme Court justices have announced their support for the Access to Justice Campaign. Access to Justice is a partnership of the State Bar of Michigan, the Michigan State Bar Foundation, and legal aid providers that seeks to build an endowment for legal aid programs and also help to fund their daily operations.

The court announced its support in this statement issued September 20, 2000. "The Michigan Supreme Court and the State Bar of Michigan share a common goal: that Michigan's courts are affordable and accessible to everyone. The justices of the Supreme Court commend the State Bar for its innovative Access to Justice campaign."

The message of support follows contributions to the campaign by each of the Court's 7 justices. They join with benches from several Michigan communities, including Genesee and Berrien County, that have supported the Campaign with 100 percent member participation.

The Access to Justice Campaign is a State Bar of Michigan program designed to bring an awareness of the legal needs of the poor to members of the profession, and to encourage financial support of the civil legal aid non profit programs that operate throughout the state. Through a partnership with the Michigan State Bar Foundation and the Legal Services Association of Michigan, the State Bar is spearheading the effort to raise funds for legal services throughout the state.

"We think that this effort to bring together the resources of members of the bar to serve those in our community who need our help is one of the most important programs of the State Bar of Michigan," said Reginald Turner, Chair of the State Bar's Access to Justice Task Force, and newly elected Vice President of the State Bar of Michigan. "The Bar is deeply committed to this effort."

Turner emphasized the need of the clients served by legal aid programs, including senior citizens, children, victims of domestic violence, those with housing needs. "These are the people that are beneficiaries of the important work we are supporting through the ATJ Campaign," Turner said.

"We are deeply appreciative of the support given to the ATJ Campaign by 100 percent of the Michigan Supreme Court justices," said Al Butzbaugh, President of the State Bar of Michigan. "We urge every bench in the state to follow the lead of our highest court and achieve 100 percent support for the Campaign as well. We thank Chief Justice Elizabeth Weaver for her leadership on this issue."

The support of the Access to Justice Campaign by the Michigan Supreme Court was acknowledged at a reception on Wednesday, September 20, during the State Bar's 65th Annual Meeting in Detroit. For information on the ATJ Campaign, please contact Candace Crowley at 1-800-968-1442.

State Bar President Alfred M. Butzbaugh and Michigan Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Kelly.	Justice Maura Corrigan (left), State Bar President-elect Thomas J. Ryan, and Chief Justice Elizabeth Weaver.
Michigan Supreme Court Justices, State Bar officers, and law firm leaders gathered at the reception recognizing the Michigan Supreme Court Justices' support of the State Bar of Michigan's Access to Justice Development Campaign.	State Bar Secretary Reginald M. Turner and Justice Marilyn Kelly