PA Supreme Court Sets Date for School Funding Argument


	Credit: Versatile Aure, Flickr

Save the date! On September 13, 2016, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will hear oral argument in our landmark education funding lawsuit right here in Philadelphia. Argument will be heard in City Hall, Courtroom 456 at 9:00 a.m.

We need your help to pack the courtroom in City Hall. We need to show the court that this is an important case and deserves a full trial. The children of Pennsylvania deserve their day in court.

Settlement on Behalf of 2 Million Kids in Florida Approved


The Gorenflo family, whose two sons are named plaintiffs in this case

This week, a federal judge approved the settlement agreement in our 10-year-old case against the state of Florida for failing to provide basic medical and dental services to low-income children. The agreement provides for state agencies to make substantial improvements so that children enrolled in Medicaid can access medical and dental care throughout the state.

Our Statement on Orlando


	Photo: Orlando Sentinel

There is no place for hate in America. We condemn hate of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex Latinx people who were the targets of the attacks in Orlando; hate of the millions of Muslims who are among us as residents and citizens and are being blamed; or, even, hate of the haters. Hate is corrosive. It transformed a place of sanctuary and liberation into a place of violence. It turns us on each other, when what we most need is to unite.

Read the rest of our statement...

2016 Annual Event: Of the People, By the People, For the People

10.6.16

Join us on Thursday, October 6 for our annual event to celebrate the core conviction of democracy: "of the people, by the people, for the people." We will honor Soil Generation (left), a black-led coalition of urban farmers and community gardeners; longtime board member Nick Chimicles (center) of Chimicles & Tikellis LLP; and Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP (right), our dedicated co-counsel in our case on behalf of children enrolled in Medicaid in Florida. Sponsorships available. Tickets $150.

Join Our Team!

We currently have two job openings. We are looking for a staff attorney and a legal director. We are also accepting fellowship applications through July 6. You can learn more about these opportunities on our website.

Stormwater Billing Exemption for Gardens Moves Forward


	Norris Square

On June 2, Philadelphia's four largest community garden and market farm groups presented testimony to City Council in support of a stormwater billing exemption for gardens and farms. This exemption will reduce unbearable financial burdens on community gardens and market farms. Staff attorney Amy Laura Cahn presented testimony on behalf of one of our clients, the Norris Square Neighborhood Project. For the last five years, we have been involved in moving this exemption forward, and we are pleased that Council is progressing toward making this exemption a reality.

Failures of the PA Human Relations Commission

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) is essential to addressing discrimination in Pennsylvania. For low-income Pennsylvanians, the PHRC is their only opportunity to access their civil rights under the law. However, PHRC is failing these groups of people due to underfunding and understaffing, among other issues. Law Center Independence Fellow Julie Foster presented testimony on this subject to the Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee on June 7.

Welcome to our Summer Interns

Every summer, our office buzzes with life as we are joined by a new class of interns. These students work hard and help us significantly move forward our projects and cases. This year's group has already put in a tremendous amount of work, and we are excited to have them for the rest of the summer!