Sen. Hinojosa and Rep. Hunter Receive Justice Legislative Hero Awards

© 2012 The Texas Lawbook.

By Natalie Posgate
Staff Writer for The Texas Lawbook

Two Texas legislators were recognized this week for their avid efforts to improve access to justice in Texas.

The Texas Access to Justice Commission and Texas Access to Justice Foundation honored Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa and Representative Todd Hunter Wednesday with the Texas Access to Justice Legislative Hero Awards at the Corpus Christi Bar Association’s monthly meeting for their contributions to improving statewide court access to low-income Texans. Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan L. Hecht presented the awards to the two legislators.

“We faced many obstacles for funding in the last session, but thanks to the bipartisan support we received in the Legislature, many struggling Texans have received assistance with basic civil legal service,” Justice Hecht said in a statement. “We are grateful for the tremendous work and support of Sen. Hinojosa and Rep. Hunter as we continue to provide access to justice to Texans in need.”

Founded by the Supreme Court of Texas in 1984, the Texas Access to Justice Foundation funds legal aid organizations to help more than 100,000 low-income Texas families annually with their civil legal needs. The Foundation and Commission launched the Legislative Hero Award program in 2010 to recognize legislators who have significantly advanced access to justice in Texas either through assisting with the appropriation of funds or completing substantive activities related to the provision of legal aid in the state.