June XX, 2007
Hon. [fill in name of you LOCAL ASSEMBLY MEMBER]
State Capitol
P.O. Box XXXXXX
Sacramento, CA XXXXX-XXX
RE: AB 159 (Jones): SUPPORT
Trail Court Judgeships and Subordinate Judicial Officer (SJO) Conversions
Dear Assembly Member [your local assembly member name here]:
I am writing to express the support of [your program name here] for AB 159 (Jones).
[Include brief description here of your program]
Legal services nonprofits provide high-quality legal services to our state's most vulnerable populations. We ensure that our clients have access to basic necessities, such as food, safe and affordable housing, freedom from violence, health care, employment, economic self-sufficiency, and the ability to access the legal system. Legal services programs efficiently serve millions of poor clients, and promote an ordered society and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
Low-income and other vulnerable populations already experience difficulties in accessing the judicial system. The current statewide lack of judgeships creates additional and significant barriers that may prevent low-income people from being able to access their local court at all. We commend the legislature for their outstanding work last year in passing SB 56, which created 50 new judgeships and began a multi-year plan for adding the minimum number of judges needed around the state. AB 159 is a crucial next step in this plan to address the need to improve access to the
The need to create additional judgeships is critical and cannot be left for some point in the future. Therefore, [your program name] respectfully urges support for the important goal of AB 159 of increasing the number of judgeships and improving access to the trial courts for all Californians.
Sincerely,
[Signature block]