IN THIS ISSUE
Client Council
Message from the Chair
Community Activist Spotlight: Ronel Baccus
“The Judicial Erosion of America's Foundational Pillars", Ronald Simpson-Bey
Kutak-Dodds Nominations
2022 Annual Conference Reflections
Member Resource Center
Upcoming NLADA Events
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Liza Merrill, Chair, Client Council & NLADA Board of Directors Member
Ronald Simpson-Bey, Vice Chair, Client Council & Treasurer, NLADA Board of Directors
Rosita Stanley, Vice Chair, NLADA Board of Directors & Member, Client Council
Larry Carlton
Soummer Crawford
LaShung Willis
Marquita Wise-Jones
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My name is Liza Merrill, and I am the Chair of the Client Council at NLADA. I am excited about my new role, and I look forward to collaborating with our President and CEO, April Frazier Camara, the NLADA staff, and all our constituents.
As we navigate the aftermath of a pandemic that nearly brought the world to a halt and has created new norms on how we conduct business and socialize in public, let us never forget the Golden Rule. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In short, Be Kind.
On a business and housekeeping note, this newsletter is an important part of our communication plan. Please support this effort by reaching out to Ms. Chandra Nicholson at C.Nicholson@nlada.org about news and concerns happening in your area.
Wishing you Peace, Love, and Happiness!
Best,
Liza Merrill, Client Council Chair
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Community Activist Spotlight: Ronel Baccus |
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We at NLADA want to highlight a member doing uplifting and transformative work for her community. Ronel Baccus and her nonprofit, Unity in the Community, are supporting a diverse coalition of community members fighting for racial, economic, and disability justice in Greensburg, PA. In addition to this work, she is also the President of Laurel Legal Services.
This summer, Ronel organized the first-ever Juneteenth celebration to be held in Greensburg. She coordinated with the Blackburn Center, Sage’s Army, the American Red Cross, and other organizations to “come together to recognize Black history and honor Black leaders in the community,” as Ronel said. (Latrobe Bulletin, 06/16/22) [AE1]
Since the Juneteenth celebration, Unity in the Community has led a Christmas gift drive, community DEI training, autism awareness training, and many other events that were free and open to local stakeholders. It comes as no surprise, then, that in June, Ronel also won the Racial Justice Award from the YWCA of Westmoreland County. This award is granted “to a community member or business demonstrating a commitment to racial equity through efforts to build communities, raise awareness, and further racial harmony and inclusiveness.”
We are so lucky to have Ronel as a member of NLADA and are looking forward to what she will do next in 2023!
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The Judicial Erosion of America's Foundational Pillars
By Ronald Simpson-Bey
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Recent rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court are evidence of the Court’s slide down the slippery slope of eroding the social fabric of our democratic society. In a recent ruling on the landmark case regarding the right to remain silent as established in Miranda v. Arizona, the Court reduced police accountability by limiting the ability of an accused person to sue a police officer for damages caused by evidence obtained without a Miranda warning, even if that evidence was ultimately used against them in a criminal trial. In addition to a number of other protections impacted by this decision, the Court's ruling also bars civil lawsuits against the offending law enforcement officer.
This is the third in a string of Supreme Court rulings that have rolled back basic human and civil rights protections for our society. In the decision of Shinn v. Ramirez, written by Clarence Thomas, the Court ruled that incarcerated people will no longer have recourse to federal judicial relief even when they claim they were wrongfully convicted because their lawyers failed to conduct their cases properly. Continue reading...
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Nominations OPEN for the 2023 Kutak-Dodds Prizes! |
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NLADA and the Robert J. Kutak Foundation will grant the Kutak-Dodds Prizes at the 2023 Exemplar Awards Gala on June 8, 2023, in Washington, D.C. The prizes honor the accomplishments of one civil legal aid attorney and one public defender who, through the practice of law, are reinforcing the principle and reality of justice for all under the law.
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2022 Annual Conference Highlights |
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The 2022 NLADA Annual conference, “Speaking Truth to Power, A New Day in a New Way,” was a success, with many client-focused workshops and panels around important discussions, such as “Racial Equity in Practice” and “Mental Health and Well Being.”
The event included a pre-conference leadership training, which was engaging and interactive. This part of the conference was an opportunity for NLADA's Client Advocates to learn from the knowledge and experiences of others, firsthand, and we plan to hold this pre-conference event each year. In the evening, we honored Mr. Clint Lyons and presented him with a token of appreciation for his continuing support of NLADA. Later in the evening, the DJ’s music skills released our Inner Child, and we danced like no one was watching.
– Liza Merrill
NLADA Client Council Chair
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New Client Member Resources
Did you know NLADA has a special membership category just for clients?
Through a NLADA membership, clients engaged in the world of equal justice can take advantage of all of NLADA’s standard member benefits, along with our specially-curated content and engagement opportunities just for clients, including:
- Curated news and information.
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Access to the free Client Member listserv *OPEN NOW!*
- Opportunity to engage through the NLADA Client Council and weigh in on important issues facing clients across the country
- Tailored programming at the Annual Conference
- Steep registration discounts, or FREE registrations when offered
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Update Your Annual Dues
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Refer a Friend!
Did you know that Client Members who sign up together may receive a free membership? Your Acting Chair, Liza Merrill CHALLENGES YOU to bring in 5 members or more for a chance for a FREE membership.
NLADA membership comes with exclusive member benefits, including training discounts, expert advice on funding and regulations, and more!
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Important NLADA Deadlines and Events |
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NLADA, with support from the Idaho Public Defense Commission, is holding a virtual leadership program for new and emerging leaders and supervisors.
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Join us as we discuss this and more with decision-makers and advocates who are proud graduates of HBCUs.
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Do you have a workshop idea that is focused on how we can better collaborate to listen, hear, include, and compassionately represent the communities we serve?
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Nominations are now open for the 2023 Kutak-Dodds Prizes and Beacon Awards!
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BPDA is looking for HBCU students for the BDPA Community Engagement Fellowship; a 12-week program that pairs Black undergraduate & graduate HBCU students, who aspire to do racial equity & community defense work, with public defender offices.
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NLADA and NAIDE are offering Train the Trainer to provide tools, tips, and guidance to meet both old and new demands of training.
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NLADA Annual Conferences & Gala |
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The ABA/NLADA Equal Justice Conference is an annual gathering of legal services and pro bono advocates to share and learn about developments and innovations in providing legal services to low-income persons.
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National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) Exemplar Awards honored members of the corporate counsel or private law firm communities who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, vision, dedication and achievement in promoting and supporting equal justice.
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The NLADA Holistic Defense & Leadership Conferences will be in Baltimore, MD on June 13-16. This year’s summer holistic conferences will include the SJC Defender Leadership Summit and the Community-Oriented Defender Network Conference.
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The NLADA Annual Conference is the premier skills-building and knowledge-sharing event for the civil legal aid, public defense, and public interest law communities. The 2023 Annual Conference will take place in Oakland, California.
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