A Lexington non-profit that provides legal services to low-income immigrants is operating again – with fewer staffers. Jackson Cooper is the senior general counsel and director of legal programs at the Kentucky Equal Justice Center, which operates the Maxwell Street Legal Clinic.
“As of right now, they are open and serving their existing clients, but due to some financial funding setbacks and the uncertainty that is coming from the federal administration, they are not currently accepting new clients.”
The funding in question is from the federal Victim of Crimes Act, the future of which is unknown under the Trump Administration. Cooper said the legal clinic shut down January 31 before reopening last week with what he hopes are temporary layoffs.
“I personally think we have a, not only an ethical, legal obligation, but a moral obligation, to help those folks that we've started helping.”
Cooper said after the Kentucky Equal Justice Center and legal clinic suspended operations, more than 350 private donors stepped up to allow them to resume their work.
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