Justice Connects
Silvia's Story
After enduring years of emotional, verbal, and physical violence, Silvia finally decided she had to get help. Legal aid helped her file for a restraining order. Silvia was afraid, but she persevered, and the restraining order was upheld. Silvia and her daughters finally feel safe in their own home.
Read more about Silvia, Josephina, and Carmen, and others who were helped by legal aid.
News
Laf-Off: Oregon’s Premier Lawyer Comedy Event!
On October 25, 2019, about 300 members of the Oregon legal community gathered to witness Oregon's Premier Lawyer Comedy Club Event: Laf-Off!Nine lawyer comedians vied for fabulously decorated rubber chicken awards. With such talented comedians, we wish that everyone could have taken home a chicken, but these were the ultimate winners:
EARLY SHOW:- Most dollars raised for legal aid: DIANE HENKELS! (She took home the fabulous "Oh Chickey, You're so Fine" chicken.
- Most donors for legal aid: SARAH LOWE! (She took home the amazing "Ruth Bader Ginsbawk" chicken.)
- Funniest Comedian Before 9:00 p.m.: SARAH LOWE! (She took home the incredible "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Hen" chicken.)
- Most dollars raised for legal aid: HEATHER WEIGLER! (She claimed the marvelous "CHIC-en" award.)
- Most donors for legal aid: HEATHER WEIGLER! (She took home the tremendous "Chicken Breast-Stroke" award.)
- Funniest Comedian After 9:00 p.m.: IT WAS A TIE!
- CIERRA BROWN took home the extraordinary "Baked Chicken" award.
- PAUL NEESE claimed the phenomenal "Count Chickula" award.
Lane County Luncheon
The 11th Annual Campaign for Equal Justice Lane County Luncheon
On October 4, 2019, nearly 200 members of the Lane County legal community gathered at the Vet's Club for the 11th Annual CEJ Lane County Luncheon.
Our speakers included: Hon. Mustafa Kasubhai, Hon. Josephine Mooney, Todd Johnston, Ross Williamson, Gerry Gaydos, Erika Hente, Elliott Farren, Molly Wijers, and Sebastian Tapia from the Lane County Bar Association.
As Judge Kashubai so sagely pointed out during the luncheon:
"I am wholly disinterested in resting on the ideal of separate but equal. We have been down that road before and we need not describe the utterly flawed logic and intrinsic inequity of such a system. The ideal our community must pursue is the ideal of one circle that includes all of us. Without this ideal, there is no justice.
The Campaign pursues this ideal. Through your passion for justice and commitment to equity, we can keep drawing that circle wider to one day include everyone. This also means no one can be on the sidelines. Supporting the Campaign is one key way to draw the circle wider. Our practice of professionalism in this legal community also plays an important role."
So far, 157 donors (more than 18%!) have donated almost $50,000. It's not too late to add your name to the list. Give us a call at 503-295-8442 to learn how you can help, or simply click on the donate button above!
Marion-Polk Luncheon
The 23rd Annual Campaign for Equal Justice Marion-Polk Luncheon was a big success!
Speakers included Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson, Vanessa Nordyke, Danny Santos, Audrey Hirsch, Ryan Collier, Angelica Vega, and Heather Van Meter from the Marion County Bar Association. $51,500 has been raised so far—a great start!
Civil legal aid ensures fairness in the justice system, regardless of how much money you have. Justice for all is a right, not a privilege. Every lawyer can do their part to ensure justice for all by supporting legal aid in Oregon. So far, 204 people in the region have donated to support legal aid this year. Our goal is to surpass last year’s total and reach 350 donors. There’s still time to add your name to the list!
Give us a call at 503-295-8442 to learn how you can help, or simply click on the donate button above!
Raffle for Justice
The winners of the Raffle for Justice were chosen at Party Under the Stars on September 19, 2019. We're pleased to announce the winners below, and to thank you for helping to raise almost $6,000 for legal aid in Oregon!
Gift Baskets- Stumptown Coffee Basket (Donated by Tonkon Torp)--THOMAS PAYNE, SCHWABE
- Cozy Fall Basket: Get your hygge on and stay warm in chilly weather (Donated by Smith Freed & Eberhard)--KRISTINA MACK, PERKINS COIE
- Specialty Wine Basket (Donated by Miller Nash Graham & Dunn)--ANN MARIE SCHOTT, KLEIN MUNSINGER
- Movie & Beer Basket: beer, movie tickets, candy, and more (Donated by Farleigh Wada Witt)--BROOKS COOPER, DRANEAS & HUGLIN
- $100 gift certificate to Besaw’s (Donated by Kell Alterman & Runstein)--MICK HARRIS, TONKON TORP
- $100 gift certificate to Fogo de Chao (Donated by Holland & Knight)--ERIN SWEENEY, LITTLER MENDELSON
- $100 gift certificate to Bamboo Sushi (Donated by Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt) --KRISTINA HOLM, PERKINS COIE
- $100 gift certificate to Restaurant St. Jack (Donated by Lindsay Hart)--JEFFREY ARMISTEAD, OREGON COURT OF APPEALS
- Pair of Trailblazer tickets (Donated by Barran Liebman)--DMITRIY GOLOSINSKIY, SMITH FREED
- Family Membership to the Oregon Zoo (Donated by Bullivant Houser Bailey)--ANNA SORTUN, TONKON TORP
- Cooking class for two at Cookshop (Donated by Vial Fotheringham)--JANE LOWERY, WILLAMETTE VALLEY BANK
- BrewCycle: $150 gift certificate / 4 spots on a BrewCycle tour (Donated by Littler Mendelson)--HON. ANGEL LOPEZ, MULT. CO. CIRCUIT COURT
Lara L. Skidmore Memorial Fund
CEJ was saddened to learn of the recent passing of Lara L. Skidmore, the Managing Partner of Troutman Sanders’ Portland office. Her husband, John Moot, has generously offered to fund a new domestic violence attorney position at Legal Aid Services of Oregon, in her memory.
John states: “I have committed to fund, in Lara’s name, an additional Legal Aid Services attorney in Portland for a minimum of eight years, focusing on areas that Lara cared about the most. With the help of additional donations from her friends and supporters and some additional work on my part, I am hopeful we can push this to ten years of full funding, which will enable hundreds, if not thousands, of people who cannot afford an attorney to get the legal services they deserve. In the process, this effort will ensure that we build something positive out of her tragic and premature death.”
Donations in Lara’s honor can be made to CEJ on this page. We thank you for honoring her memory and for helping to support domestic violence survivors in Oregon.
Legal Needs Study
The study has been in the news recently. Read more about it in the following stories and editorials:
- March 15, 2019 / Bend Bulletin
- March 13, 2019 / Salem Reporter
- March 5, 2019 / Oregon Public Broadcasting
- February 28, 2019 / Oregonian
- June 2019 / Oregon State Bar Bulletin
Success Stories
You & Legal Aid Helped Clara
After Clara's abuser sent her to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, legal aid helped keep her and her son safe and in their home.
You & Legal Aid Helped Emily
Emily's husband was violent and the violence was escalating. Legal aid helped guide Emily through the restraining order process.
You & Legal Aid Helped Steve
When "Steve's" landlord shut off the boiler, leaving all the tenants without heat for eight months, legal aid helped them assert their rights.
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