Defenders of Justice for All

 2017 Campaign To Honor Peter J. DeTroy III

The 2017 Campaign for Justice is dedicated to the memory of Peter DeTroy, who had been slated to chair the Campaign.  Peter's wife Mary Roy and his colleague Paul Driscoll of Norman Hanson & DeTroy will be honorary chair and campaign chair of the 2017 Defenders of Justice for All Campaign in Peter's honor.

"I wanted to be involved with the Campaign for Justice in Peter’s memory to continue the work he would have done ensuring the availability of legal services to Mainers with the least access, an issue he cared deeply about,” said Mary Roy about her active involvement. 
 
Driscoll said of his colleague and friend, " Peter cared deeply about the law and its power to protect the most vulnerable among us. He looked forward to being the Campaign Chair and was proud of the Campaign’s mission to assure that everyone in Maine is given access to justice and treated with dignity and respect. His life is a testament to his commitment to others, and it is very fitting that the 2017 Campaign is dedicated to his good memory.”

Who Does the Campaign Help?
The Campaign for justice assists adults and children in Maine who do have have access to justice in civil legal matters by raising support for legal aid for six organizations. See About.

What Kinds of Legal Aid Help Do Maine Residents Need in Civil Legal Matters?
Truly the most basic things. Things we take for granted for our own families: food, health, shelter, safety. Matters for which we know a lawyer is needed: custody, discrimination, due process, denial of benefits, citizenship, protection from abuse, education rights and access for our children, eviction, fraud . . .

Who Receives Help Most?
Those who benefit from the Campaign for Justice's support of legal aid live at or below the poverty level.  In Maine, 73% of those living in poverty are women and children.  One out of every six in poverty is disabled, and one out of every ten is 60 or older. 

Be a Defender of Justice for All. 
Find your reasons why . . .
  • I believe everyone in Maine should have access to legal advice and representation in civil legal matters just as much as criminal ones.
  • I believe that the legitimacy of law in our country rests on everyone having equal access to matters of law.
  • I am concerned that one out of every three Mainers affected by the help of Maine’s legal aid providers is a child and what would happen without my best support.
  • I believe that poverty should not be a bar to equality before the law.
  • I am concerned that women, children, the elderly, veterans and the disabled are over 80% of those who cannot afford legal services.
  • I am concerned that people who have endured physical and emotional harm and risked everything to come to a just and equal society do not have the opportunity to put their best case forward about joining our democracy.
  • I believe we are a great nation because we strive to uphold our founding belief in justice for all.
  • I believe that most of the issues needing legal advice and representation deal with fundamental issues affecting shelter, food, safety and health and that if we resolve these legal issues early, both our economy and our communities are stronger.
  • I am concerned that a poor child sitting in my child’s class, a senior citizen of meager means at my church, the disabled carrier who delivers my newspaper, the struggling couple who plow my drive, the homeless young veteran on Main Street, and all the other vulnerable and poor citizens of my town may need legal help.
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2015 Annual Report
Profiles of Voices for Justice, Firm Recognitions, Donor Recognitions

2016 Annual Report Will Be Published in April 2017.



Links to Recent Legal Aid News

Portland Press Herald editorial on importance of legal aid, 4/12/17

Economic Impact of Civil Legal Aid Services in Maine, commissioned by the Justice Action Group. Please scroll down to bottom of JAG page for PDF.
Campaign for Justice • 40 Water Street • Hallowell, Me 04347 • 207.622.3477
Campaign Coordinator: Cathy Coffman, cathycoffman@gmail.com