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.

Building on last year’s popular discussion, “Innovative Strategies for Managing and Growing Your Outreach Program,” this session shares how our outreach and pro bono strategies have evolved. Presenters will demonstrate equity-driven approaches using tools like Monday.com, interactive maps, and inclusive campaigns to streamline planning, engage communities, and coordinate volunteers. Attendees will leave with practical tools and ideas to strengthen and grow their own outreach and pro bono programs.

Court fines and fees can have a devastating impact on court users with collateral consequences beyond a criminal case, including ramifications for housing and credit. This session will focus on the civil implications of court fines and fees, civil legal strategies to address the impact of court fines and fees, reform initiatives, and tools and resources developed by the recent national CCJ/COSCA Task Force on fines, fees, and pretrial reform. It will also focus on current political challenges related to fines and fees reform and the impact on civil legal justice.