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'Everyone belongs here': LA County Takes Major Step to Combat Section 8 Discrimination in the Antelope Valley A Public Counsel lawsuit last year exposed a frightening fact: For years, black and Latino families who are part of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program in the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale faced harassment from officials. Now Los Angeles County has approved a breakthrough agreement that that will combat discrimination and help heal the divisions in the community.

Big Step Toward Justice for Immigrants with Mental Disabilities: Court Clears Way for Class Action Lawsuit In 2010 a Public Counsel lawsuit exposed a harsh fact: Immigrants with severe mental disabilities are held in U.S. detention centers, sometimes for years, without access to attorneys. Now a federal court has cleared the way for a class action lawsuit on behalf of people detained with no way to resolve their cases.

Just Fashion Brings Out Stars and Styles to Benefit Public Counsel Public Counsel's first-ever Just Fashion brought together stars and top designers at LA Fashion Weekend to raise money for our work in the community. See photos from the show.

Public Counsel Applauds New $1 Million Grant to Restore Youths' Futures Youth who wind up in the juvenile justice system too often lose out on their futures too. But a new $1 million grant aims to restore hope for more than 1,200 youth in South Los Angeles.

01/25/2012
Los Angeles County Agrees to Take Major Step to Combat Section 8 Discrimination in the Antelope Valley For years, Antelope Valley families who are part of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program faced harassment in the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale. Now Los Angeles County has sent a powerful message to these and other cities: County programs and departments will no longer be used as tools for intimidation and discrimination. County Supervisors approved an agreement late Tuesday with attorneys representing Antelope Valley residents and the NAACP that takes away many of the tools that have been used to inspire fear in the more than 11,000 Section 8 participants in the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale who moved to the area seeking a better life for themselves and their families.

01/10/2012
Los Angeles Juvenile Courts Will Dismiss Curfew Tickets for Students on Their Way to School and Direct Students to Supportive Services Los Angeles’ top judge for juvenile courts has released new guidelines to eliminate fines and unnecessary court time for students who were late to school and for other minor offenses. The court will also direct students who miss school to school- and community-based resources that are shown to improve academic achievement and get struggling students back on track. It’s the latest step forward to reforming Los Angeles daytime curfew rules and truancy ticketing.

12/20/2011
Federal Court Grants Class-Action Status to Unrepresented Immigration Detainees With Mental Disabilities A federal court in California granted class-action status to a group of unrepresented immigration detainees with mental disabilities, an important step in helping ensure they get access to legal counsel.

12/15/2011
Federal Transit Report on Metro Service Cuts Shows Disturbing Evidence of Discrimination MTA service cuts and fare increases shows serious concerns about how they have affected riders, particularly people of color. Read our statement.

More Press Releases

01/01/2012

ABA Journal: Force for Good: Public Counsel Law Center's New App Connects Lawyers, Clients ABA Journal The American Bar Assn. Journal writes about Public Counsel's new smartphone app, Force for Good, which lets users refer cases, and allows volunteer lawyers to take a case and provide updates.

12/21/2011
National Law Journal: Judge certifies class of immigration detainees suffering mental problems National Law Journal A federal judge in California has certified a class of hundreds of undocumented immigrant detainees with mental disabilities who have alleged that they were unable to obtain legal counsel in violation of their due process rights.

12/22/2011
Daily Journal: Working to avert bankruptcy crisis Daily Journal The Daily Journal profiles Public Counsel's self-help bankruptcy clinic, which is a "lifeline for a court deluged with debtors who are unrepresented."

10/20/2011
Daily Journal: Obama adminstration deports record number of illegal immigrants The Daily Journal As the U.S. sets a new record by deporting nearly 400,000 people who were in the country illegally during fiscal 2011, Public Counsel's Judy London responded to the Daily Journal.

President Bill Clinton and Barbra Streisand Celebrate With Public Counsel
Public Counsel's Power of 1+1
CBS Stars Shine for Public Counsel
Public Counsel: We're a Force for Equality
We're Driving for Dignity to Keep Youth in Schools
KTLA Spotlights Public Counsel's Run for Justice at the 2011 LA Marathon