Other Justice Coalitions

Michigan Campaign for Justice

The Campaign for Justice is a broad-based group of organizations and individuals from across the political spectrum fighting for a fair and effective public defense system in Michigan. The Michigan Campaign for Justice believes that legislative reform is needed to improve cost effectiveness, protect the public’s safety and ensure one's Constitutional right to counsel.

Their coalition seeks to: Build a broad-based network of organizations that share the vision of a justice system that works for all; Educate policymakers and the public about the need for reform; and Win passage of legislation that fixes Michigan’s broken public defense system.

The Michigan coalition has approximately 60 member-agencies. Their organization has released report cards on public defense in Michigan, has an aggressive media campaign, conducts grassroots organizing across a wide diversity of constituencies throughout the state and provides policy-making education and advocacy.

The Campaign for Justice is a 501(c)(4) non-partisan, non-profit organization, funded by Atlantic Philanthropies. You can learn more at: www.michigancampaignforjustice.org



Virginia Fair Trial Project

The Virginia Fair Trial Project supported public defense reform in Virginia through policy research, public education, media outreach and legislative advocacy from 2002-2009.

The organization was founded in 2002 as the Virginia Indigent Defense Coalition. In 2007, it changed its name to the Virginia Fair Trial Project with the continued mission to promote national standards and the constitutional right to a fair trial for everyone – regardless of financial resources.

The Virginia Fair Trial Project’s partner organizations were: the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA); Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (VACDL); National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL); Virginia CURE; the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP); the Virginia Bar Association; the Virginia State Bar; and the Virginia League of Women Voters. The coalition’s primary national funders were the Open Society Institute and Public Welfare Foundation; they also received significant financial support locally from their State Bar Association and Trial Lawyer’s Association.

The Virginia Fair Trial Project critical achievements included increased state appropriation for Virginia’s public defense function and waivers for “fee caps” for court-appointed cases (which allows additional compensation for cases that are especially complicated or require expert witnesses or specialized resources).