Progress report and presentation from the Hon. Judge Joe Lopez, 49th District Court, regarding the success of the Legal Resource Center Program servicing eligible clients at the Webb County Law Library; with discussion and possible action to authorize additional operational resources including an essential full time position to help ensure the continues success of the program; and any other matter

Staff Report & Agenda Item Details

Progress report and presentation from the Hon. Judge Joe Lopez, 49th District Court, regarding the success of the Legal Resource Center Program servicing eligible clients at the Webb County Law Library; with discussion and possible action to authorize additional operational resources including an essential full time position to help ensure the continues success of the program; and any other matters incident thereto. Issue: The Legal Resource Center at the law library has been effectively providing legal services to eligible clients for the last Two (2) years and has continued to help alleviate family/civil court docket congestion for the judiciary.  Personnel, however, is limited to only part time help from the law library. Solution: Authorize a full time assistant position that can oversee the operations of the law library and legal resource program on a full time basis. Result: Help keep up with the growth of the legal resource program and ensure success moving forward.

This motion is scored as EXPANDS_GOVERNMENT (Impact Weight: 2.7/10). Under the Bastiat Liberty Watchdog Index, measures that increase tax rates or fee schedules, issue new debt or Certificates of Obligation, expand regulatory/zoning restrictions on private land use, or authorize unbudgeted spending expansions reduce an official's Freedom Score when voted YES (and reward dissenting NO votes).