L4GG Celebrates Anna Hori as Volunteer of the Month

We are excited to introduce Anna Hori as our July Volunteer of the Month! Anna’s exceptional dedication has been instrumental in supporting our mission.

Meet Anna, a Dedicated Volunteer Making a Difference

Anna began her journey with L4GG in late summer of 2022, during her first year at the University of Chicago Law School. Inspired by her interest in reproductive justice and the flexibility L4GG offered, she dedicated herself to volunteering with L4GG’s Reproductive Health Legal Assistance Project, even as a busy law student. Anna shared: 

"I really appreciated L4GG's broad scope of work and their flexibility for volunteers, especially as a first-year law student.”

Her interest in reproductive justice and the opportunity to work asynchronously made volunteering with L4GG a perfect fit. Outside of her volunteer work and studies, Anna enjoys spending time with friends and family and values the balance that her volunteer work brings to life. 

Contributing to Meaningful Projects

One of Anna’s most significant projects involved monitoring news stories about reproductive health laws in Nebraska. Despite not knowing much about the state initially, she quickly became an expert, tracking the progression of state law and high-profile cases. Her work focused on the intersection of reproductive justice, privacy, and the criminal justice system, contributing to a deeper understanding of post-Dobbs America. 

“I also really loved that while the project was centered on reproductive justice, it incorporated a lot of different parts of the law. So a lot of my work was on the intersection between reproductive justice, privacy, and the criminal justice system.”

— Anna Hori

Anna’s efforts extended beyond individual tasks; she was part of a team that aimed to understand the broader implications of legal changes. Her work was not just an academic exercise, but a meaningful contribution to real-world issues. This research has been incorporated into the Policy Resource Hub for Reproductive Health and Reproductive Health Digest, two critical tools maintained by L4GG and powered by volunteers like Anna to provide front-line reproductive healthcare providers with clarity around the laws in 56 states and US territories.

Balancing Law School and Volunteering

Balancing the demands of law school with volunteering is no small feat, yet Anna managed to do so with grace. She found that volunteering provided a refreshing change from her academic workload as she noted:

"It was a nice way to break up the reading and writing in law school. The asynchronous nature of the work allowed me to contribute more during lighter weeks." - Anna Hori

Advice for Future Volunteers

We asked Anna what advice she would give to other volunteers, and she emphasized the importance of getting involved and finding work that aligns with both your interests and schedule. She also suggested building a community among volunteers to enhance the experience and support each other. 

"Volunteering was a meaningful part of my law school experience. I learned a lot in a different way than in the classroom.” - Anna Hori 

Looking Ahead

As Anna prepares to enter her final year of law school, she continues to reflect on her volunteer experience with gratitude. 

"The training and support I received from L4GG were invaluable. I felt confident and knew who to contact if I needed help.”

Her dedication and hard work have not gone unnoticed, and we are excited to see where her legal career takes her.

Thank You, Anna!

Thank you, Anna, for your outstanding contributions to L4GG. Your passion, dedication, and hard work have made a lasting impact, and we are proud to have you as part of our team. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and look forward to seeing the amazing things you will accomplish.

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As we celebrate Anna Hori this month, we highlight her individual contributions and the broader impact of our volunteers who dedicate their expertise to significant causes. Anna's work with L4GG showcases the power of committed volunteers in effecting lasting change and building a better tomorrow.

1. If you know of another incredible pro bono volunteer, nominate them for our Pro Bono Volunteer of the Month award here!

2. If you’re interested, consider how you might also make a difference through your skills and passions!

A Day in the Life of an L4GG Volunteer: Observing Asylum Education at Betances Clinic

Written by Isabella Hussar, Project Corazon Volunteer

Yesterday, before heading to New York to observe an asylum education session at Betances Clinic, I spent the morning at home in New Jersey reading up on immigration news from the past couple of months. I learned about S.B.4, the proposed policy in Texas granting any police officer the power to arrest people suspected of being non-US citizens, and Biden's new plan to restrict immigrants seeking asylum only from the southern border. Both policies have been accused of being classist and racially motivated. I also read that a growing number of Americans fear immigration and perceive it to be a negative contributor to American society. It prompted my curiosity as to why America is so anti-immigration. 

My morning of scrolling through news of doom and gloom was then followed by a train ride into New York City, where I met Estuardo, a former asylum seeker and now Client Services Manager for L4GG and Jessica, an attorney for L4GG, at a Greek restaurant in Chinatown called Kikis. We were a few blocks from Betances, a health clinic that predominantly serves the transgender community. 

We arrived at the clinic greeted by Spanish speaking volunteers. The interior was clean and calm. People silently waited in the lobby. Art and plants hung on the walls. We stopped briefly so Jessica could change out of her practical walking shoes into a pair of emerald green high heels. 

Down the hall, I entered a small beige room with fluorescent lighting. Half the room held a kitchen with a few people organizing trays of hot food, the other half an area full of people sitting in folding chairs that centered around a TV. Many of the women in the room wore full faces of makeup, had brightly dyed hair, or outfits you might see on Miami Beach.

This was a safe place for freedom of self expression.

I caught everyone’s attention when I entered the room. I stood in awe as I stared back at a room of humans who had faced such adversity and still made it here. This was a room full of transgender women, who’ve fled their homes in other countries out of fear for their safety, and made it to New York. 

When someone seeks asylum, they have left their homes and are in need of protection from persecution and serious human rights violations. Here, in lower Manhattan, these people were free to be themselves. There I was, having grown up just across the Hudson river, meeting a room full of people who endured things to be here I couldn’t even consider in my realm of possibility. 

After I gave an introduction of myself in the best Spanish I could muster on the spot, I sunk into the background — my job was only to observe. Whenever a new person walked through the door, the others in the room embraced them with love. The women here had formed a tightly knit community, one that made up a group of people who were smiling, laughing, and chatting. Before the presentation began, Estuardo read out a list of rules posted on the wall. He told everyone to silence their phones, not talk over the presentation, wait to ask questions at the end. Watching them reminded me of sitting in a high school classroom. 

When the presentation started, the hush of chatter came to a lull. The TV lit up with the words “Cinco Caminos Hacia El Asilo” which means “Five Steps To Take To Asylum.” 

Estuardo and Jessica spoke about the process of getting asylum and went over things to keep in mind for their cases. They explained how America has a separation of church and state and how the church cannot control government decisions. Priscilla, another attorney for L4GG who is overseeing my internship, tells me that many immigrants assume the laws in the U.S. will be similar to the laws in South America.

When the presentation ended, the woman stood around chatting and eating chicken, rice, and beans. Someone appeared with a birthday cake and presented it to a volunteer. A woman wearing an orange sundress and dangling earrings approached me with a smile. She wants to go to law school one day, she told me, and wondered if I knew of any good law schools in the city. 

During the presentation, Estuardo had explained how personal identity was important to winning a case. It felt as if these asylum seekers were all preparing to apply to colleges, and needed to create a resume that showcased them as a person. Later, Priscilla explained to me that individualism is important to winning a status of asylum because the laws in America are interpreted on a case-by-case basis. 

When I asked Priscilla why she thought so many Americans feared immigration, she told me people form opinions either out of love or hate. When you are standing in that clinic, surrounded by the people there, it is impossible to feel the latter.

L4GG's Statement on Trump v. United States Ruling

Following the Supreme Court's ruling today in Trump v. United States, Lawyers for Good Government’s Vice President of Engagement Sterling Howard released the following statement:

“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court's conservative majority marks a deeply troubling moment in our nation's history. By granting unprecedented immunity to former President Trump, the Court has undermined a core principle of our Constitution: that no person is above the law. As Justice Sotomayor aptly noted, this ruling 'makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law.’

The Court's decision effectively shields Trump from accountability for his actions to subvert the democratic process, delaying justice and eroding public trust in our legal system. This ruling contradicts the values upon which our nation was founded and endangers the very fabric of our democracy.

As defenders of justice, we must respond to this alarming decision by reaffirming our commitment to the rule of law and ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their position, are held accountable for their actions. Our democracy depends on it.

We reject any agenda that threatens our democratic principles. The fight for equal justice under the law continues, and we remain steadfast in our mission to protect the rights and freedoms of all people.”

L4GG: SCOTUS Majority Puts Access to Emergency Abortions Back on Shelf, Leaves Federal Supremacy Questions Unanswered

SCOTUS' Inaction on Idaho Abortion Law Exposes Judicial Avoidance, Endangers Health Protections

Washington, D.C. - Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG),  the nation’s largest community of attorneys committed to human rights and equal justice, finds the Supreme Court’s decision to reverse course on accepting Idaho’s petition for relief in Moyle v. United States absolutely necessary to restore Idahoans’ access to emergency healthcare in the short term, but woefully insufficient to protect the rights of millions of Americans under the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). We call on the Court to use its authority to vindicate the supremacy of federal law over state abortion bans that restrict access to emergency care. The Court’s dismissal of the case as improvidently granted leaves pregnant people facing emergencies and the doctors who treat them in a precarious legal limbo and fails to contend with the very real harm created by the Court’s prior decision to allow Idaho to fully enforce its ban over EMTALA’s clear mandate. 

The Court's ruling returns the issue to the lower courts, allowing emergency abortions to resume in the state, but failing to provide an answer to the critical questions raised in the litigation. Although the decision did not affirmatively greenlight Idaho’s backwards interpretation of EMTALA, it also did not confirm the reality that federally mandated emergency healthcare should not be held hostage by state-level restrictions.

““The Court majority’s decision to wish away the conflict between state and federal law presented by Idaho’s abortion ban is a deeply unethical avoidance of judicial responsibility. This procedural dodge leaves essential, long-established health protections in limbo, which is far from a victory for those advocating for reproductive rights and maternal health equity.””

— Khadijah Silver (JD/MPH), L4GG’s Supervising Attorney for Civil Rights

““While the Court’s decision today does not take the extraordinary step of expressly allowing a draconian state abortion ban to override clear federal law, it is far from the vindication of the rights of pregnant people that is needed to safeguard access to critical life-saving emergency abortion care. The Court’s refusal to use its authority to reject states’ attempts to curtail basic liberties is not a victory but an abdication of judicial responsibility.””

— Alyssa Morrison, L4GG’s Staff Attorney for Reproductive Justice

Legal Basis and Broader Implications:

Today’s decision is neither for nor against Idaho. Instead, the Court removed the stay of the District Court’s opinion that it previously put into place and decided it should never have heard the case in the first place. The removal of this stay will allow emergency abortions to resume in the state, but it cannot remedy the very real harm created by its imposition in the first place. The Court’s decision to dismiss the case back to the lower courts also does not answer the critically important question of whether a state can turn well-established principles of preemption on their head and impose its own draconian abortion restrictions over the federally mandated provision of emergency healthcare. As long as this question remains unresolved, the rights of pregnant people continue to hang in the balance.

Response and Action Plan:

Shortly after the end of the court session, Lawyers for Good Government will host a “SCOTUS Wrapped” event to discuss the implications of the Court’s actions in Moyle and other crucial cases - we invite you to subscribe to get updates and stay informed.

We will also continue to work with healthcare providers and legal advocates to protect patients' rights nationwide. One way we support our partners is through our Policy Resource Hub for Reproductive Health, a vital, constantly updated tool for patients and providers to find legal guidance, up-to-date policy analysis, and advocacy tools aimed at navigating the evolving landscape of reproductive health laws. The Hub serves as a central platform for mobilizing grassroots support and equipping stakeholders with the information necessary to advocate for comprehensive reproductive healthcare access.

L4GG Celebrates Becky Teiwes as Volunteer of the Month

We are excited to introduce Becky Teiwes as our June Volunteer of the Month! Becky’s exceptional dedication has been instrumental in supporting our mission. From providing essential services at detention centers to assisting with local clinics for documented and undocumented immigrants, Becky’s contributions have made a tangible impact on the communities we serve. Read on to learn more about Becky’s inspiring journey and her invaluable work with Project Corazon.

Meet Becky Teiwes - From Classroom to Borderlands Advocacy

With a background in education, Becky spent many years teaching high school Spanish in Massachusetts, integrating lessons on human rights and migration into her curriculum. However, her drive to create a more direct impact inspired a profound shift in her career and life, leading her to the US-Mexico border in October 2021. Becky is currently the Borderlands Program Coordinator for the Mennonite Central Committee. 

A Journey Rooted in Compassion and Action 

Becky’s transition from the classroom to the frontlines of humanitarian work was sparked by a deep-seated need to be physically present where the need was greatest. 

“I was teaching about the border and our response to it, feeling increasingly disconnected from the very issues I was passionate about,” she explained.

Motivated by the zero-tolerance policy and the devastating impact of family separations, Becky decided it was time to move beyond the theoretical and engage directly with the humanitarian challenges at the border.  Reflecting on her career shift, Becky shared: 

“I just got tired of teaching about the border and about US foreign policy in Central America and…feeling like there was something we needed to do as a country…we moved to the US-Mexico border in October of 2021. I would say in response to child separation… zero-tolerance policy, I think that was really the straw that broke the camel’s back for me.”

Discovering L4GG and Making a Difference

In 2021, while researching ways to volunteer, Becky found L4GG and signed up to support Project Corazon, an L4GG program created to defend the rights of migrants in the face of inhumane immigration policies, despite her limited legal background. She soon found her passion,  helping newly arrived immigrants on humanitarian parole with arrival logistics. 

“Even small tasks like making phone calls or translating documents can make a big difference,” she said. 

Becky’s ability to seamlessly integrate her skills into the volunteer efforts has made her an invaluable part of the L4GG family.

A Look at Becky’s Achievements

After a year of legal advocacy, Marc was finally reunited with his family on Christmas Eve.

One of Becky’s most significant experiences was her involvement in the defense of a Haitian man, referred to as “Marc” for confidentiality. Marc’s case, involving torture in Mexico, required extensive effort from the L4GG team. This client had been separated from his family and was stuck at a for-profit detention center. For nine months Becky was one of the only people able to visit him during this time. Becky witnessed the entire process, from meeting Marc in Reynosa to attending his trial.

“Seeing him shackled during his trial was a stark reminder of the injustices within the for-profit prison system,” she recalled.

“Becky is why we have been as successful as we have been. She is willing to enter dark, cold, and often threatening facilities in order to connect directly with a client. She tells their stories. She carries their wounds on her shoulders. She is willing to put herself out there simply because she thinks that there is a better way. She hasn’t given up hope that this country and our laws can be fair. Whenever I am convinced that my team is alone, there is Becky, reminding me that there is still a fight worth fighting.””

— Priscilla Orta, L4GG Director of Project Corazon

Personal Growth Through Volunteering 

Volunteering with L4GG has profoundly impacted Becky. “It has illuminated injustices I’ve only read about before. Seeing them firsthand, despite being difficult, is incredibly important,” she explained. Becky believes that physical proximity to these issues helps volunteers truly understand and advocate for change. 

Becky’s Advice to Future Volunteers

Becky encourages anyone considering volunteering to remember that every contribution counts. 

“There is no offering too small. Even if it’s an hour of your time, it can make a significant difference.”

She also highlights the importance of recognizing one’s privileges and capacities, urging others to contribute in ways that fit their circumstances. While Becky is deeply committed to her work, she acknowledges the support of her spouse and the logistical advantages that allow her to volunteer. 

“I have a supportive husband and a part-time job which enables me to engage in this work. I am not some wonderful, amazing person; I am privileged to be able to do this,” she humbly shared.

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As we celebrate Becky Teiwes this month, we highlight her individual contributions and the broader impact of our volunteers who dedicate their expertise to significant causes. Becky’s work with L4GG exemplifies how dedicated legal professionals can drive systemic change and create a sustainable future.

1. If you know of another incredible pro bono volunteer, nominate them for our Pro Bono Volunteer of the Month award here!

2. If you’re interested, consider how you might also make a difference through your skills and passions!

Chevron Deference on Trial at SCOTUS: Impact Survey for Legal Practitioners

A Landmark Case

In the coming days, the U.S. Supreme Court will issue a ruling in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, a pivotal case that could redefine administrative law by potentially overturning Chevron deference. Chevron deference, established in 1984, requires courts to defer to a federal agency’s interpretation of ambiguous statutes, recognizing the agency's expertise. This principle has been instrumental in maintaining consistent regulatory practices across various sectors.

The implications of this case extend beyond administrative law. A decision against Chevron deference could significantly impact federal regulatory authority in areas such as environmental protection, food and drug safety, employment, consumer protection, and immigration. It would shift more power to the judiciary, allowing courts to override agency interpretations and create a less predictable regulatory environment.

Understanding the Case: A Special L4GG Explainer

To help you grasp the complexities of this case and its potential consequences, L4GG has prepared an explainer document. This guide provides a clear understanding of the issues at stake, the arguments presented, and the broader significance of the Supreme Court's decision for regulatory practices in the United States.

Participate in Our Impact Survey

We are reaching out to our community of legal practitioners to gather insights on how the potential ruling might affect your practice. Please take this quick survey - your feedback is crucial in helping us understand how we can best support you in navigating the post-ruling landscape.

Why Your Input Matters

The outcome of Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo could reshape the legal landscape in which we operate. Whether you specialize in administrative law, environmental law, healthcare, or any field subject to federal regulation, the ramifications of this decision could be profound. By participating in our survey, you will help L4GG prepare for the challenges ahead and ensure we can effectively mobilize our community in response to this landmark ruling.

We hope you will take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us. Together, we can stand ready to address the potential upheaval in administrative law and continue our fight for justice and regulatory stability.

NEW: Info on Minors’ Access to Abortion in L4GG’s Policy Resource Hub

L4GG is excited to share some important news from L4GG’s reproductive rights and health equity team. In our ongoing commitment to support providers, patients, and advocates navigating the ever-changing reproductive health law landscape, we are pleased to announce a significant expansion of our Policy Resource Hub for Reproductive Health.

Our 'Abortion Laws by State' tracking tool, which provides accurate, reliable, and up-to-date legal research on abortion laws in all 56 U.S. states and territories, now includes detailed information on abortion laws pertaining to minors. Previously, the tool answered critical questions about the legality, exceptions, and requirements for abortion services. Now, with the new section on minors' access, we address additional complexities that providers and advocates face in protecting young individuals' rights.

Here’s an example of what this tool looks like for registered users:

Navigating abortion laws can be challenging, especially with the frequent changes and regional variations. Our Hub, updated daily by over 500 dedicated pro bono attorneys and L4GG’s in-house experts, ensures that you have access to the most current legal information. 

We believe that informed advocates are powerful advocates. By expanding our resources, we aim to equip you with the tools needed to continue the fight for reproductive rights.

We invite you to:

1. Check Out the Hub: Visit our updated Hub to explore the new section on minors’ access to abortion (accessible via free registration). Share the link with colleagues, friends, and anyone who could benefit from these valuable insights.

2. Subscribe for Updates: For those who prefer regular updates on reproductive health law changes, subscribe to our Reproductive Health Digest. This bi-weekly newsletter delivers the latest legal analyses on abortion access straight to your inbox.