2026 Equal Justice Conference

Data has the power to expose inequities—but too often, the numbers we need are buried in messy, incomplete, or confusing records, or are missing altogether. This session uses research on court fines and fees to show how advocates can turn fragmented or missing data into persuasive stories to drive systemic change. Participants will learn practical strategies for requesting, collecting, and interpreting datasets, overcoming reporting gaps, and translating findings into narratives that strengthen advocacy.

This panel will offer a practical look at the realities of filing emergency habeas petitions in federal court on behalf of detained immigrants. Featuring pro bono and legal services attorneys who have recently drafted and argued these petitions, the discussion will unpack the time-sensitive nature of habeas litigation, explore staffing models that support rapid response, and highlight common procedural and strategic hurdles. Attendees will gain insight into how teams navigate deadlines, coordinate across organizations, and advocate effectively under pressure in an evolving legal space.

For years, law firms have publicly reported and touted their pro bono hours, but law firm giving – and advocacy for public funding – has largely remained in the shadows. This panel will explore a law firm’s responsibility for direct donations, both to organizations that provide pro bono opportunities and to areas of unmet need often beyond the reach of pro bono. We will also explore the broader duty of the private bar to advocate for and defend public funding to support legal aid. Panelists will discuss the opaque and antiquated process of private sector giving during these turbulent times, and how we can work together to put giving in focus.

Participatory Defense is a community organizing model that empowers people facing charges and their families to shift power in the courtroom. It centers family and community strength, positions impacted people as organizers and agents of change, and uses individual cases to build a movement to hold courts accountable and end mass incarceration. This workshop explores partnerships between communities and public defender offices to challenge harmful policies, strengthen defense efforts, and leverage community power to bring loved ones home and drive systemic change.