{"id":29449,"date":"2020-07-14T16:27:07","date_gmt":"2020-07-14T20:27:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stetson.edu\/law\/news\/?p=29449"},"modified":"2020-12-09T18:40:19","modified_gmt":"2020-12-09T23:40:19","slug":"local-organizations-to-use-33500-grant-for-voting-rights-restoration-clinics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stetson.edu\/law\/news\/index.php\/2020\/07\/14\/local-organizations-to-use-33500-grant-for-voting-rights-restoration-clinics\/","title":{"rendered":"Local organizations to use $33,500 grant for voting rights restoration clinics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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PRESS RELEASE
July 14, 2020<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GULFPORT, Fla. \u2013 Stetson University College of Law and Community Law Program (CLP) received a $33,500 grant from the American Bar Endowment (ABE) to create clinics to help returning citizens previously convicted of felonies get their voting rights restored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2018, 65 percent of Floridians voted to amend the Florida Constitution to restore voting rights to 1.4 million citizens previously convicted of felonies (commonly referred to as \u201creturning citizens\u201d). Months later, the Florida Legislature passed Chapter 2019-162 Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 7066 requiring all financial obligations of returning citizens\u2019 sentences be paid before they could vote. This meant only those returning citizens with enough money to pay financial obligations such as court fees, fines, and restitution in full would be eligible to vote. The requirement eliminates access to justice and civic engagement for hundreds of thousands of low-income and indigent citizens<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Litigation is pending on this issue, and a new hearing is scheduled for August 11. In the meantime, returning citizens still need help reviewing their court records, determining what, if any, type of legal financial obligations are owed and whether it\u2019s necessary for them to pay the legal financial obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWhen the law imposes barriers to a right as fundamental as the right to vote, and when those barriers disproportionately impact poor people, we had to get involved,\u201d said Kimberly Rodgers, executive director for Community Law Program. \u201cI\u2019m so thankful to the American Bar Endowment for enabling our organization and Stetson to come together on this important work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To combat possible confusion around this issue, CLP<\/a>, with the help of students and faculty at Stetson University College of Law<\/a>, have started a series of Restoration of Voting Rights Remote Clinics serving Pinellas County, Fla.  CLP staff will recruit, train, and support volunteer attorneys to host virtual clinics twice a month to review legal options with returning citizens interested in restoring their voting rights.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Professor Judith Scully<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe effort to ensure the right to vote to all citizens in the state of Florida is crucial to ensuring a fair democracy in which all of our voices count,\u201d said Stetson Law Professor Judith A. Scully<\/a>. \u201cTo allow restrictions on a citizen\u2019s right to vote is an affront not only to the individual\u2019s civil and political rights, but it is an affront to the entire legal system. Our students and alumni attorneys who participate in this project will demonstrate Stetson\u2019s commitment to equal justice. We are proud to be a part of the campaign to restore the voting rights of individuals who were previously incarcerated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stetson Law selected four student fellows who will support CLP’s outreach efforts through assisting with intake, research, and outreach. The law students also will assist in recruiting, organizing and training other law student volunteers and community partners. Stetson faculty will help provide ethics training for volunteer attorneys and students regarding pro bono outreach efforts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Professor
Professor Christine Cerniglia<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe students have become community organizers and leaders on these important issues,\u201d said Christine E. Cerniglia<\/a>, Stetson Law professor and director of Clinical and Experiential Education. \u201cThis type of work is an opportunity to engage students in outreach outside of the classroom and for them to learn about community lawyering. \u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community Law\u2019s first clinic took place online on June 25. Clinics will be every first and third Thursday of month from 5-7 p.m. People can call CLP at 727-582-7480 to schedule an appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ABE Opportunity Grants<\/a> are awarded to “boots-on-the-ground” initiatives and innovative projects that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n