Crossover Update - Advocating for Change
We are halfway through the 2020 Virginia legislative session, and the bills that have passed through both the House and Senate have now “crossed over” to be considered in the opposite chamber. LAJC is happy to report that a majority of the legislation that we have supported is still…
Advocating for change – LAJC's legislative priorities
The 2020 Virginia legislative session is under way and LAJC has put forth an ambitious set of priorities to advocate for this year. With the legislature looking to take on some long-standing issues that affect our communities, we are optimistic that meaningful policy change is possible and are working with our elected…
Fund Our Schools Statement on Governor's Budget
Statement on Governor Northam’s Proposed Budget Governor Northam’s K-12 budget is being announced as a major $1.3 billion investment in our public schools. The proposed budget would direct state resources to needed staffing and services in Virginia public schools, yet it falls short of what it will take to fairly…
Getting Workers What They're Owed
Note: Shortly after this report was published, DOLI acknowledged that the wage-claim data it had originally provided to LAJC was incomplete: DOLI did not disclose to LAJC any information about cases where the agency had ordered an employer to pay a fine or back wages but then failed to collect…
Rally to Protect DREAMers!
Rally to Protect DREAMers!* On November 12th the Supreme Court will hear arguments that will determine the fate of our DACAmented immigrant community. Let’s make sure they hear from us! Join Legal Aid Justice Center, VACOLAO, and VACIR at 9am at 3rd and East Capitol Streets NE, and march to…
Report on Disorderly Conduct Charges in Schools
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: October 23, 2019 Contact: Jeff Jones Director of Communications Legal Aid Justice Center jeff@justice4all.org (804)869-1040 NEW REPORT REVEALS HOW VIRGINIA’S DISORDERLY CONDUCT STATUTE IS DISPROPORTIONATELY APPLIED TO BLACK STUDENTS In the last three years, Black students made up approximately 22% of the school population in Virginia…
New Immigration Clinic at GMU
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: August 27, 2019 Media Contacts: Kathleen Corcoran kcorcoran6@gmu.edu (703)993-8332 Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg simon@justice4all.org (703) 778-3450 The Legal Aid Justice Center and George Masin University’s Antonin Scalia Law School Announce New Immigration Clinic Arlington, VA — The Legal Aid Justice Center (LACJ) today announced a new immigration litigation clinic at…
Garcia-Diaz v. Libre by Nexus Complaint
Read the complaint here: Garcia-Diaz v. Libre by Nexus Complaint
Va AG Declines to Appeal Habitual Drunkard Decision
For Immediate Release LAJC Commends Attorney General Herring’s Decision Charlottesville, Virginia (August 2, 2019) – The Legal Aid Justice Center commends Attorney General Herring for his decision today accepting the Fourth Circuit’s ruling regarding invalidating Virginia’s “habitual drunkard” regime. “We look forward to working with Virginia to implement constructive programs to address homelessness…
Coalition Advances Regulatory Ban on Prone Restraints in Va. Schools
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Rachael Deane Legal Director, JustChildren Program, Legal Aid Justice Center 804-873-0783 | rachael@justice4all.org LAJC Applauds Virginia Board of Education Ban on Prone Restraints in Schools Richmond, Virginia (July 26, 2019) – The Legal Aid Justice Center applauds the Virginia Board of Education’s vote to ban…
4th Circuit Strikes Down Habitual Drunkard Statute
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Elaine Poon, Managing Attorney 434-529-1816 elaine@justice4all.org FOURTH CIRCUIT STRIKES DOWN UNCONSTITUTIONAL “HABITUAL DRUNKARD” STATUTE CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA, July 16, 2019 — Today in Manning v. Caldwell, the Fourth Circuit, sitting en banc, struck down Virginia’s statutory scheme that permitted the state to interdict and prosecute people as…
Rally to Protect Immigrant Children
RALLY TO PROTECT IMMIGRANT CHILDREN – STOP THE ABUSES AND DEATHS! WHAT: Are you outraged at the recent reports of abuses and deaths of immigrant children detained in President Trump’s camps and looking for a way to fight back? Come join us at our Rally to Protect Immigrant Children where…
Court Rejects Request to Dismiss License Lawsuit
June 28, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Angela Ciolfi, Executive Director 434-529-1810 angela@justice4all.org U.S. DISTRICT COURT REJECTS HERRING’S REQUEST TO DISMISS THE STINNIE v. HOLCOMB DRIVER’S LICENSE SUSPENSION LAWSUIT Charlottesville, VA—Today, Judge Norman Moon of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia issued an opinion in Stinnie…
Know Your Rights Training in Case of ICE Raids
Know Your Rights Training in Case of ICE Raids for Service Providers WHAT: The Legal Aid Justice Center is organizing a “Know your Rights” presentation for service providers in Northern Virginia in response to a recent announcement of large-scale ICE raids in the DMV region. Although President Trump cancelled the…
Virginia Schools Need Support Staff, Not More Police
Virginia Schools Need Investment in Support Staff—Not More School Resource Officers Yesterday, Governor Northam announced over $3.47 million in School Resource Officer (SRO) incentive grants to 53 localities across the Commonwealth. The funding will allow school divisions to add more SROs to Virginia’s K-12 public schools, increasing the number…
6 Things To Know About Driver's License Suspensions
UPDATED 6 Things To Know Right Now about the recent Virginia budget amendment to temporarily halt driver’s license suspensions for unpaid court debt: 1. The budget amendment should lift current driver’s license suspensions for unpaid or delinquent court debt, and will prevent future such suspensions beginning July 1, 2019…
Continuing Problems at Fluvanna Women's Prison
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Shannon Ellis, Attorney Legal Aid Justice Center 434-529-1815 shannon@justice4all.org WOMAN PRISONER AT FLUVANNA SEEKS RELIEF FROM LIFE-THREATENING MEDICATION FAILURES Charlottesville, Va., April 30, 2019 — A woman incarcerated at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women (FCCW) filed a motion today in federal court seeking relief from…
4th Circuit: No Remedy for ICE Abuses
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Hallie Ryan, Managing Attorney, 703-226-3426, hallie@justice4all.org Tim Wallace, Dir. of Development, 434-529-1853, twallace@justice4all.org Fourth Circuit: If ICE agents break into your house illegally, you have no remedy Falls Church, Va., April 26, 2019 — Today a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the…
VA AG Undermines License Suspension Relief Efforts
April 24, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Angela Ciolfi, Executive Director, 434-529-1810, angela@justice4all.org VIRGINIA OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL UNDERMINES CRITICAL OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE DRIVER’S LICENSE SUSPENSION RELIEF PERMANENT Charlottesville, VA—Yesterday, the Attorney General and Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner filed a motion to delay or prematurely end the…
Mixed 4th Circuit Decision on ICE Transfers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Becky Wolozin, Attorney, 703-720-5606, becky@justice4all.org Tim Wallace, Dir. of Development, 434-529-1853, twallace@justice4all.org 4th Circuit decision on ICE transfers upholds court oversight but fails families Falls Church, Va., April 16, 2019 — Today the 4th Circuit issued a decision in Reyna v. Hott, a case challenging ICE’s practice of transferring…