TRENTON — The head of New Jersey's Legal Services agency says 2 out of 3 needy clients who request a lawyer are being turned away because of inadequate funding from the state. Melville Miller Jr. says he expects to lay off 100 staffers this year and serve 10,000 fewer clients than last year. Legal Services helps people who can't...
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N.J. Gov. Chris Christie at the Iowa Education Summit in Des Moines, Iowa on July 25. The head of Legal Services said 2 out of 3 needy clients will be turned away after requesting a lawyer. Christie cut $5M from the Legal Services budget this year and $9.7M last year.TRENTON — The head of New Jersey's Legal Services agency says 2 out of 3 needy clients who request a lawyer are being turned away because of inadequate funding from the state.
Melville Miller Jr. says he expects to lay off 100 staffers this year and serve 10,000 fewer clients than last year.
Legal Services helps people who can't afford a lawyer with foreclosures and tenant housing disputes, domestic violence cases, consumer fraud and social security disability claims.
Gov. Chris Christie cut $5 million from Legal Services budget this year and $9.7 million last year. He also eliminated funding for legal clinics at Rutgers Law School in Newark and Camden.
The Assembly Judiciary Committee is reviewing the impact of the cuts at a hearing on Christie's budget.
Related coverage:
• Legal Services of N.J. fighting to help the poor overcome a growing barrier to justice
• After budget cuts, Legal Services of New Jersey struggles to find attorneys
• Editorial: Small bump in court costs would be solid boost to Legal Services
