The Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators have adopted a resolution calling for increased funding for the Legal Services Corporation to meet the growing demand for legal services.

The resolution describes LSC as “a critical component of the national access to justice system” and notes that the need for legal services “has dramatically risen” partly due to increased unemployment, foreclosures, debt issues, and problems accessing medical care resulting from the financial crisis.

The resolution also states that the recession is sapping funding from state and local sources and therefore calls for “increased federal funding on a continuing basis for LSC to better meet the demand for legal services and ensure access to justice for all.”

The Conference of Chief Justices was founded in 1949 as a means for the states’ highest judicial officers to discuss issues of importance to state courts and to work towards improving the administration of justice. The Conference of State Court Administrators was established in 1955 and is dedicated to the development of a more just, effective and efficient system of justice.

Full Text of the Resolution

From LSC Updates, October 1, 2009