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News Release
Texas Access to Justice Commission Texas Access to Justice Commission Honored Veterans at Gala on May 1 AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Access to Justice Commission
honored the service of veterans throughout the state at the Champions of
Justice Gala Benefiting Veterans on Tuesday, May 1, at the AT&T Executive
Education & Conference Center in Austin, Texas. More than $413,000 was
raised to help provide civil legal services to low-income Texas veterans. “The Champions of Justice Gala Benefiting Veterans
honored the service of the brave men and women who have sacrificed for our
country,” Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan L. Hecht, the Court’s liaison
for access to justice issues, said. “These individuals dedicate their lives
to our country, yet many do not receive assistance with civil legal matters,
including improper denial of health benefits. With the funds raised at the
gala, we are able to continue the fight to improve access to justice for all
Texans.” Admiral William H. McRaven – Keynote Speaker Admiral William H. McRaven, ninth commander of U.S.
Special Operations Command who was in command of the mission to apprehend
Osama Bin Laden, spoke at the gala about the importance of helping veterans
with civil legal issues. Adm. McRaven graduated from The University of Texas at
Austin in 1977. The admiral has commanded at every level within the special
operations community, including assignments as deputy commanding general for
Operations at Joint Special Operations Command, commodore of Naval Special
Warfare Group ONE, commander of SEAL Team THREE, task group commander in the
CENTCOM area of responsibility, task unit commander during Desert Storm and
Desert Shield, squadron commander at Naval Special Warfare Development
Group, and SEAL platoon commander at Underwater Demolition Team
TWENTY-ONE/SEAL Team FOUR. Champions of Justice Gala Benefiting Veterans Host committee co-chairs for the gala include prominent Texas attorneys who are donating their time for the effort: S. Jack Balagia of Exxon Mobil Corporation in Houston, Joseph D. Jamail Jr. of Jamail & Kolius in Houston, Charles W. Matthews Jr. of Irving (formerly of Exxon Mobil Corporation), Harriet E. Miers of Locke Lord LLP in Dallas, Wayne A. Reaud of Reaud Law Firm in Beaumont and Scott E. Rozzell of CenterPoint Energy Inc. in Houston. Major sponsors of the event included: AT&T, The Reaud
Foundation, Inc., Baker Botts LLP, Exxon Mobil and Charles W. Matthews,
Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP, Jamail & Kolius, Fulbright & Jaworski LLP
and Vinson & Elkins LLP. The State Bar of Texas donated funds to cover the
expenses of the gala. More than $1 million has been raised by this gala in
the past three years, benefiting veterans. Proceeds from the gala will be
distributed by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation and dedicated to the
provision of civil legal services for low-income Texas veterans. These
services assist in addressing legal issues related to marital problems,
difficulties in getting medical or disability benefits, wrongful
foreclosures, and other situations that may arise due to a veteran’s absence
during military service. Access to Justice Awards Several awards were presented at the Champions of
Justice Gala to distinguished legal aid advocates for their contributions in
improving access to justice. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst received the Legislative
Hero Award for for his outstanding leadership in the Senate and his work to
ensure that access to the courts is available to all Texans. As president of
the Texas Senate, Lt. Gov. Dewhurst ensured that for the past two
legislative sessions there was funding, of almost $38 million, for legal aid
during a time of crisis. The Legislative Hero Award program was launched in
2010 to recognize legislators who, through their efforts, have significantly
advanced access to justice in Texas by assisting with the appropriation of
funds and/or other substantive activities related to the provision of legal
aid in the state. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott received the
Star of Justice Award that recognizes dedication to improving access to
justice for low-income Texans. Abbott was recognized for his exemplary
support of access to justice in Texas and partnership in serving the legal
needs of Texans. Abbott has worked hard to safeguard the solvency of the
Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund, which among other things, provides funding
for civil legal services to victims of crime. Also, the attorney general was
instrumental in ensuring that $10 million from the national mortgage
settlement was directed to civil legal aid. Recipients of the James B. Sales Boots on the Ground
Award included Terry Tottenham, of counsel to Fulbright & Jaworski
LLP and former president of the State Bar of Texas; Charles Kimbrough,
partner of Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP, and Bruce Bower,
deputy director of Texas Legal Services Center. Tottenham was recognized for
his role in initiating Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans, a statewide
coalition of Texas lawyers who provide pro bono legal services to veterans
in need—which has been replicated in 13 states. As the lead attorney
representing seven of the 13 families in the “Jarrell 13” case, Kimbrough’s
pro bono efforts were monumental in helping the families receive justice
when they were sold property but never given title to their land. Bower was
honored for his efforts in creating the Legal Hotline for Older Texans, a
first-of-its-kind hotline where individualized legal advice is provided to
clients over the phone, which is now being implemented in hundreds of legal
aid offices throughout the country. Texas Legal Aid In 2001, the Supreme Court of Texas created the Texas
Access to Justice Commission to develop and implement initiatives designed
to expand access to and enhance the quality of justice in civil legal
matters for low-income Texas families. Since its inception, the Commission
established legal training academies, a student loan repayment assistance
program, resource development measures and innovative technology
initiatives. “Legal aid helps veterans obtain the medical benefits
they require for mental and physical injuries they have sustained during
military service. More die from suicide on their return than have died in
combat,” Harry M. Reasoner, chair of the Texas Access to Justice Commission
said. “Regardless of economic status, access to justice should be available
to all Texans. It is particularly painful to see our veterans who have
sacrificed so much denied justice on their return.” More than 6.1 million Texans currently qualify for
civil legal aid. Yet, for every Texan that is helped by legal aid, a
qualifying individual is turned away due to a lack of resources. To be
eligible for civil legal aid, an individual must earn no more than $13,963 a
year. For a family of four, the household income cannot exceed $28,813. -30- The Texas Access to Justice Commission was
created in 2001 by the Supreme Court of Texas to develop and implement
policy initiatives designed to expand access to and enhance the quality of
justice in civil legal matters for low-income Texans. The Commission has
created several initiatives to increase resources and awareness of legal
aid. For more information, please visit
www.TexasATJ.org.
Contact: Kimberly Schmitt512-320-0099, ext. 104 kschmitt@teajf.org
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