Shared Justice: Take Up the Cause, Plead the Case!

The sixth amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that those accused of a crime have the right to a lawyer. However, as noted in Shared Justice's article "The Legal Representation Gap" by Mackenzie Harmon, this right does not extend to civil law. Cases that cover issues like housing, consumer scams, domestic issues, and social security become difficult for defendants because of the complex nature of civil legal proceedings, as well as high costs for legal representation.

In fact, low-income defendants are "less than half as likely as those with moderate incomes to seek legal help." Thus, the poor, vulnerable, and disabled members of our society face disadvantages that makes them easy prey for the corrupt and abusers.

The legal representation gap in American society needs to be addressed not just by our government, but by the Church as well. The prophet Isaiah says, "Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow" (1:17). He explains that the justice of the poor matters to God. So much so, in fact, that when it is denied, the relationship between God and his people suffers.

In his article, Harmon explains how President Trump and our government can bridge the legal representation gap. They also share three ways God's command in Isaiah can be obeyed by the Church in America.

"Public justice calls us Christians to ask what the right roles are for government, for individuals, and for civil society organizations to advance justice," Harmon writes, "especially for the marginalized members of our communities …"

How, then, should we respond? Check out "The Legal Representation Gap" at Shared Justice to find out.