Joe Biden Orders US Justice Department to Improve Legal Aid and Facilities

The White House in a recent announcement has stated that the President Joe Biden has given instructions to US Justice Department to frame new guidelines and find ways to make it easier for poor people to get an easy access to publicly funded lawyers and other legal aid in both criminal and civil cases. The White House also has said that this plan comes as part of a wider effort to improve access for those on lower incomes to representation in the U.S. legal system.

"Low-income people have long struggled to secure quality access to the legal system," the White House said, adding that the challenge had grown amid the COVID-19 pandemic and chronic underfunding for civil legal aid providers and public defenders.

A memo from the President Joe Biden would direct all US Attorney General Merrick Garland to develop a plan within two months to improve access to legal aid for every citizen of the US. The White House said Garland would issue his own memo later on Tuesday launching the effort immediately. A new sset of guidelines will also be framed to make legal aid accessible for everyone.