November 2009

Justice Calls Us to Serve

by Governor Christine Gregoire

Justice must be the cause of all citizens of this state, but as attorneys, we are particularly called to be protectors of justice. As the Pledge of Allegiance states, we are a nation where justice is for all. All members of our community are entitled to justice, regardless of race, creed, or economic status.

Our court system has served as an arbiter of justice since the founding of our nation. As officers of the court, we have been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that our judicial system is accessible to all members of our community.

Unfortunately, accessing our judicial system can be a daunting task without the assistance of an attorney. Many members of our community are unable to afford legal advice or representation. However, this inability to pay for legal services does not diminish the importance of an individual’s legal needs. Furthermore, as we struggle through this national recession, many more individuals now find themselves in need of legal services.

The pursuit of justice calls us to serve. We are called to ensure that our judicial system remains accessible to all, especially in times of economic recession.

 As governor of Washington, I am privileged to meet men and women across this state, from all walks of life, who demonstrate the best of the human spirit. As I have said many times, two words come to mind when I think of Washingtonians during these tough economic times: courage and generosity.

My fellow members of the Bar routinely exemplify these qualities. Nearly 400 attorneys have already volunteered to assist with the Home Foreclosure Legal Aid Project. These attorneys are helping hundreds of families and individuals to keep their homes. This is one example of a service that provides access to justice for all.

Across our state, legal aid clinics struggle to meet the diverse needs of clients even during the best of economic times. These clinics are now in even greater need of volunteers to provide legal advice and take on direct representation cases. These offices serve members of our community who are facing eviction, attempting to escape domestic abuse, and experiencing other challenging legal needs. These individuals come to clinics to seek justice, but are unable to afford an attorney to assist them. The members of our profession who volunteer and take on pro bono direct representation cases ensure that our justice system is accessible to all.

This pursuit of access to justice must be the work of all members of our legal community. Corporate, government, plaintiff, and defense attorneys, regardless of practice area, all have a stake in and benefit from ensuring access to the judicial system for all.

Members of our community are in great need of our service. I know that I can count on every member of the Bar to find a personal way to ensure that justice is accessible to all. I encourage you to spend a few hours to volunteer at a legal aid clinic, take on a pro bono case, or make a donation to support a legal aid program.

Justice for all calls us to serve in whatever way we can. I thank you for your commitment to this principle and for the many ways you generously serve the members of our community in the pursuit of justice every day. 

Christine Gregoire is the governor of Washington.