On July 26, 2017, at 5 p.m., Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families and KABF 88.3 aired the twenty nineth episode of “Speak Up Arkansas,” a talk radio show dedicated to covering issues like health care, education, juvenile justice, the state budget, family and economic security, and more.
Please note: Due to technical difficulties, this episode is not included. Please read the detailed description below.
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Our pledge of allegiance to this country ends with a promise of “liberty and justice for all.” But only the rich can pay great sums of money for legal assistance, and that puts them at an advantage over the rest of us. What is Arkansas doing to improve access to justice for the poor and vulnerable and the working class?
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This Speak Up Arkansas show was the second time in the last month that we discussed the judicial system in Arkansas. This is because the justice system is so critical to our democracy. It touts itself as the defender of rational and fair treatment under the rule of law. Yet it too is suspect by the influence of big money and powerful special interests.
There are lending practices that prey upon the poor who have no legal recourse to fight back. Low income people are subject harsh treatment by landlords who are not required to provide proper repairs and standards of occupancy, yet tenants can be charged as criminals for not paying their rent.
More than 200 years ago Fredrick Douglass pointed out that “Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.
More recently Samuel Dash, an American Lawyer and champion of legal ethics commented after his long career “I’ve always been driven by the concept of equal justice under the law, but only the rich can pay great sums of money for legal assistance and that puts them at an advantage over the poor.”
In the studio were several well-informed and dedicated people who are very aware of the problems with equal access to justice in both criminal and civil legal cases. We had the opportunity to hear their views on this topic and for listeners to be a part of the conversation with: Amy Johnson, Executive Director of the Supreme Court’s Arkansas Commission on Access to Justice; Gregg Parrish, Director of the Arkansas Public Defenders Commission; and Jean Carter, Director of Arkansas Legal Services.
Hear the entire one-hour segment in this podcast and tune in to KABF 88.3 every Wednesday at 5 p.m. for more great segments. Send questions and comments to speakupar@gmail.com.