A
30th birthday is a time for reflection, a chance to ponder past
accomplishments and plot a course for the future. It’s a
tradition that applies both to people and to the most important
institutions we create. The Legal Services Corporation
celebrated 30 years of providing access to civil justice this
winter, prompting our judicial, political, and legal leaders to
reflect on LSC’s continuing contributions to American society:
“A
responsible and compassionate society protects its most
vulnerable citizens. For three decades, LSC has helped
fund legal assistance for low-income individuals in
need. Through your programs, your organization has
contributed to a fair and effective judicial system and
advanced the ideals that make our country strong. I
applaud your commitment to upholding the principles of
opportunity and equal justice for all. Your efforts help
make our country a more hopeful place.”
—President George W. Bush
“As
we celebrate the 30th anniversary, I am heartened that
there are enough lawmakers, Republicans and Democrats,
who now understand the need for legal services and all
the things that you do as you give aid to individuals
and families. I share your upbeat assessment about
LSC’s history—and its future.
—United States
Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM)
“Thirty
undeniably is a big birthday and 30 years of stemming
the tides undeniably is a solid achievement. …I’ve
come to think of the initials LSC as standing for
‘Leveraging Scarce Capital,’ and over the last three
decades we’ve certainly seen a number of cooperative
efforts to leverage scarce capital—dollar capital as
well as human capital.”
—Judith S. Kaye, Chief Judge
of the State of New York
“Equal
justice under law. We are all familiar with this phrase.
Essentially, it holds that justice, as an inalienable
right, should never be determined by financial
well-being or station in life. Of course, simply
declaring this founding tenet of our democracy does not
make it a reality. LSC stands at the forefront of this
cause by providing thousands of small, everyday
victories that, while never mentioned on the evening
news, have a profound effect on the lives of so many.”
“A
responsible and compassionate society protects its most
vulnerable citizens. For three decades, LSC has helped
fund legal assistance for low-income individuals in
need. Through your programs, your organization has
contributed to a fair and effective judicial system and
advanced the ideals that make our country strong. I
applaud your commitment to upholding the principles of
opportunity and equal justice for all. Your efforts help
make our country a more hopeful place.”
“As
we celebrate the 30th anniversary, I am heartened that
there are enough lawmakers, Republicans and Democrats,
who now understand the need for legal services and all
the things that you do as you give aid to individuals
and families. I share your upbeat assessment about
LSC’s history—and its future.
“Thirty
undeniably is a big birthday and 30 years of stemming
the tides undeniably is a solid achievement. …I’ve
come to think of the initials LSC as standing for
‘Leveraging Scarce Capital,’ and over the last three
decades we’ve certainly seen a number of cooperative
efforts to leverage scarce capital—dollar capital as
well as human capital.”
“Equal
justice under law. We are all familiar with this phrase.
Essentially, it holds that justice, as an inalienable
right, should never be determined by financial
well-being or station in life. Of course, simply
declaring this founding tenet of our democracy does not
make it a reality. LSC stands at the forefront of this
cause by providing thousands of small, everyday
victories that, while never mentioned on the evening
news, have a profound effect on the lives of so many.”