Michael Mrozinski
@mjmrozinski.bsky.social
Policy, research, and advocacy on legal system reform, public defense, legal aid & race equity at NLADA.org | Opinions are my own | UChicago, Georgetown Law & CTLS London alum | he/him
Feinah continues:
To combat tough-on-crime narratives, we've seen people like Brandon Johnson and Zohran Mamdani have success with serious-about-safety messaging that is community-based and community-led. #NLADA25
To combat tough-on-crime narratives, we've seen people like Brandon Johnson and Zohran Mamdani have success with serious-about-safety messaging that is community-based and community-led. #NLADA25
October 31, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Feinah continues:
To combat tough-on-crime narratives, we've seen people like Brandon Johnson and Zohran Mamdani have success with serious-about-safety messaging that is community-based and community-led. #NLADA25
To combat tough-on-crime narratives, we've seen people like Brandon Johnson and Zohran Mamdani have success with serious-about-safety messaging that is community-based and community-led. #NLADA25
Feinah describes the importance of narrative and not falling into narrative traps on crime:
When you define what safety is and give voters an opportunity, you get people choosing overwhelmingly to support communities and get away from tough-on-crime narratives. #NLADA25
When you define what safety is and give voters an opportunity, you get people choosing overwhelmingly to support communities and get away from tough-on-crime narratives. #NLADA25
October 31, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Feinah describes the importance of narrative and not falling into narrative traps on crime:
When you define what safety is and give voters an opportunity, you get people choosing overwhelmingly to support communities and get away from tough-on-crime narratives. #NLADA25
When you define what safety is and give voters an opportunity, you get people choosing overwhelmingly to support communities and get away from tough-on-crime narratives. #NLADA25
Bhattacharya discusses avenues for relief:
In the CASA case, SCOTUS severely limited but didn't completely ban nationwide injunctions. We have to think about how to challenge government actions other than getting the courts to stop them. #NLADA25
In the CASA case, SCOTUS severely limited but didn't completely ban nationwide injunctions. We have to think about how to challenge government actions other than getting the courts to stop them. #NLADA25
October 31, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Bhattacharya discusses avenues for relief:
In the CASA case, SCOTUS severely limited but didn't completely ban nationwide injunctions. We have to think about how to challenge government actions other than getting the courts to stop them. #NLADA25
In the CASA case, SCOTUS severely limited but didn't completely ban nationwide injunctions. We have to think about how to challenge government actions other than getting the courts to stop them. #NLADA25
Reichlin-Melnick describes people being swiftly stripped of legal status:
People with legal status who are fixtures of communities have been told they can't work legally and have to leave. They're being forced into the shadows even though they had been told they would be protected. #NLADA25
People with legal status who are fixtures of communities have been told they can't work legally and have to leave. They're being forced into the shadows even though they had been told they would be protected. #NLADA25
October 31, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Reichlin-Melnick describes people being swiftly stripped of legal status:
People with legal status who are fixtures of communities have been told they can't work legally and have to leave. They're being forced into the shadows even though they had been told they would be protected. #NLADA25
People with legal status who are fixtures of communities have been told they can't work legally and have to leave. They're being forced into the shadows even though they had been told they would be protected. #NLADA25
Reichlin-Melnick discusses the chilling effect of immigration enforcement and intimidation:
Although the chances of arrest by ICE are very low, a single ICE arrest in a community can make people stay home and not go to school or work. #NLADA25
Although the chances of arrest by ICE are very low, a single ICE arrest in a community can make people stay home and not go to school or work. #NLADA25
October 31, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Reichlin-Melnick discusses the chilling effect of immigration enforcement and intimidation:
Although the chances of arrest by ICE are very low, a single ICE arrest in a community can make people stay home and not go to school or work. #NLADA25
Although the chances of arrest by ICE are very low, a single ICE arrest in a community can make people stay home and not go to school or work. #NLADA25
Our closing plenary panel discussion is "How Defending Democracy Is Integral to the Fight for Access to Equal Justice" with Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@immcouncil.org), Rupa Bhattacharya (@icapgeorgetown.bsky.social), Sam Feinah (@vera.org), and Somil Trivedi (@democracyforward.org). #NLADA25
October 31, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Our closing plenary panel discussion is "How Defending Democracy Is Integral to the Fight for Access to Equal Justice" with Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@immcouncil.org), Rupa Bhattacharya (@icapgeorgetown.bsky.social), Sam Feinah (@vera.org), and Somil Trivedi (@democracyforward.org). #NLADA25
We remember the life and legacy of Alan Houseman, whose work impacted the legal aid community across a variety of roles and organizations including LSC, the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), the National Equal Justice Library, and NLADA. #NLADA25
October 31, 2025 at 6:17 PM
We remember the life and legacy of Alan Houseman, whose work impacted the legal aid community across a variety of roles and organizations including LSC, the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), the National Equal Justice Library, and NLADA. #NLADA25
The Courageous Leader Award is presented to the late Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Horton, who was a legal aid lawyer before she took her support for families and low-income communities to the state legislature. #NLADA25
October 31, 2025 at 6:06 PM
The Courageous Leader Award is presented to the late Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Horton, who was a legal aid lawyer before she took her support for families and low-income communities to the state legislature. #NLADA25
The Reginald Heber Smith Award is presented to Miriam Harmatz, Founder of @flhealthjustice.bsky.social. Her career took her from the EPA to legal services in Saipan and Miami before founding FHJP. She notes the legal aid community's support: "My personal superpower is asking for help." #NLADA25
October 31, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The Reginald Heber Smith Award is presented to Miriam Harmatz, Founder of @flhealthjustice.bsky.social. Her career took her from the EPA to legal services in Saipan and Miami before founding FHJP. She notes the legal aid community's support: "My personal superpower is asking for help." #NLADA25
The New Leaders in Advocacy Award goes to Katelyn Nicole Rowe, Senior Atty at @clasocal.bsky.social. She has represented DV survivors, fought for low-income litigants deprived of verbatim court records, and successfully challenged Huntington Beach's unlawful censorship in public libraries. #NLADA25
October 31, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The New Leaders in Advocacy Award goes to Katelyn Nicole Rowe, Senior Atty at @clasocal.bsky.social. She has represented DV survivors, fought for low-income litigants deprived of verbatim court records, and successfully challenged Huntington Beach's unlawful censorship in public libraries. #NLADA25
The Mary Ellen Hamilton Award, for an outstanding client/community advocate, is presented to Ginny Parham, Founder and Letter Writing Campaign Manager at Families Shoulder to Shoulder. She got her son's 96-year sentence reduced by >60 years and has helped hundreds of people since then. #NLADA25
October 31, 2025 at 5:41 PM
The Mary Ellen Hamilton Award, for an outstanding client/community advocate, is presented to Ginny Parham, Founder and Letter Writing Campaign Manager at Families Shoulder to Shoulder. She got her son's 96-year sentence reduced by >60 years and has helped hundreds of people since then. #NLADA25
The Charles Dorsey Award is presented to Marilyn Harp, Exec. Dir. (ret.) of Kansas Legal Services. She speaks about her efforts in sealing and expunging records:
My expungement clients' hard work redeems them from their past. #NLADA25
My expungement clients' hard work redeems them from their past. #NLADA25
October 31, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The Charles Dorsey Award is presented to Marilyn Harp, Exec. Dir. (ret.) of Kansas Legal Services. She speaks about her efforts in sealing and expunging records:
My expungement clients' hard work redeems them from their past. #NLADA25
My expungement clients' hard work redeems them from their past. #NLADA25
Galvin-Almanza describes @partnersforjustice.bsky.social's impact:
PFJ has served 30,000 people in 7 years, eliminating 9,000 years of incarceration (1,000 in L.A. County alone). Every year of incarceration cuts 2 years off a person's life. Being incarcerated cuts lifetime income in half. #NLADA25
PFJ has served 30,000 people in 7 years, eliminating 9,000 years of incarceration (1,000 in L.A. County alone). Every year of incarceration cuts 2 years off a person's life. Being incarcerated cuts lifetime income in half. #NLADA25
October 31, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Galvin-Almanza describes @partnersforjustice.bsky.social's impact:
PFJ has served 30,000 people in 7 years, eliminating 9,000 years of incarceration (1,000 in L.A. County alone). Every year of incarceration cuts 2 years off a person's life. Being incarcerated cuts lifetime income in half. #NLADA25
PFJ has served 30,000 people in 7 years, eliminating 9,000 years of incarceration (1,000 in L.A. County alone). Every year of incarceration cuts 2 years off a person's life. Being incarcerated cuts lifetime income in half. #NLADA25
The Clara Shortridge Foltz Award is presented to Emily Galvin-Almanza and Rebecca Solow, co-founders of @partnersforjustice.bsky.social. Ricardo Garcia, Chief Defender of Los Angeles County, presents the award to PFJ, which grew out of the L.A. County PDO. #NLADA25
October 31, 2025 at 5:28 PM
The Clara Shortridge Foltz Award is presented to Emily Galvin-Almanza and Rebecca Solow, co-founders of @partnersforjustice.bsky.social. Ricardo Garcia, Chief Defender of Los Angeles County, presents the award to PFJ, which grew out of the L.A. County PDO. #NLADA25
Frye notes that the problems that client communities bring to public defenders and legal aid illuminate broader issues. Policymakers are too eager to assign blame to individuals for systemic problems. Low-income legal services providers are in a position to connect the dots and fill gaps. #NLADA25
October 31, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Frye notes that the problems that client communities bring to public defenders and legal aid illuminate broader issues. Policymakers are too eager to assign blame to individuals for systemic problems. Low-income legal services providers are in a position to connect the dots and fill gaps. #NLADA25
The Annual Conference Awards Luncheon begins with remarks from Jocelyn Frye, President of @npwf.bsky.social:
In all of the unpredictability of the current landscape, it's important to have clarity about the purpose of our work and about serving our communities. #NLADA25
In all of the unpredictability of the current landscape, it's important to have clarity about the purpose of our work and about serving our communities. #NLADA25
October 31, 2025 at 5:02 PM
The Annual Conference Awards Luncheon begins with remarks from Jocelyn Frye, President of @npwf.bsky.social:
In all of the unpredictability of the current landscape, it's important to have clarity about the purpose of our work and about serving our communities. #NLADA25
In all of the unpredictability of the current landscape, it's important to have clarity about the purpose of our work and about serving our communities. #NLADA25
For our first breakout sessions of the day, I'm in "LSC and the Client Voice," a forum where LSC leadership is answering questions from clients/community advocates about legal aid issues. #NLADA25
October 31, 2025 at 3:06 PM
For our first breakout sessions of the day, I'm in "LSC and the Client Voice," a forum where LSC leadership is answering questions from clients/community advocates about legal aid issues. #NLADA25
R. Tamar Hagler: DOJ had sued states for illegally purging voter rolls w/in 90 days of an election; this year all of those cases were dropped. DOJ has a new focus on voter fraud, but actual instances of voter fraud are remarkably rare, and no evidence of noncitizens voting in large numbers. #NLADA25
October 30, 2025 at 9:44 PM
R. Tamar Hagler: DOJ had sued states for illegally purging voter rolls w/in 90 days of an election; this year all of those cases were dropped. DOJ has a new focus on voter fraud, but actual instances of voter fraud are remarkably rare, and no evidence of noncitizens voting in large numbers. #NLADA25
Stoneman used to work on Title VI claims of discrimination based on race, sex, color, and national origin by federal funding recipients. The traditional interpretation of Title VI has been upended by new EOs, not by changes in the law. GWB-era 2002 guidance on language access has been axed. #NLADA25
October 30, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Stoneman used to work on Title VI claims of discrimination based on race, sex, color, and national origin by federal funding recipients. The traditional interpretation of Title VI has been upended by new EOs, not by changes in the law. GWB-era 2002 guidance on language access has been axed. #NLADA25
Simons notes enforcement of civil rights violations in education has been all but eliminated. There were 650 staff at ED OCR in Dec. 2024; 250 were fired in Mar. 2025, the rest were fired this month. Even at higher staffing there were thousands of complaints backlogged; no work on it now. #NLADA25
October 30, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Simons notes enforcement of civil rights violations in education has been all but eliminated. There were 650 staff at ED OCR in Dec. 2024; 250 were fired in Mar. 2025, the rest were fired this month. Even at higher staffing there were thousands of complaints backlogged; no work on it now. #NLADA25
Our plenary session continues with a panel discussion on changes at the DOJ Civil Rights Division (CRT) with R. Tamar Hagler, Shaheena Simons (@lawyerscomm.bsky.social), and Christine Stoneman (@northeasternu.bsky.social Dept. of Justice and Law). All three resigned from CRT this year. #NLADA25
October 30, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Our plenary session continues with a panel discussion on changes at the DOJ Civil Rights Division (CRT) with R. Tamar Hagler, Shaheena Simons (@lawyerscomm.bsky.social), and Christine Stoneman (@northeasternu.bsky.social Dept. of Justice and Law). All three resigned from CRT this year. #NLADA25
The keynote speaker for today's closing plenary session is Michelle Behnke, @americanbar.org President. She speaks on the importance of rule of law and an independent legal system:
We stand up to the forces that try to undermine equal justice under law by intimidating judges and lawyers.
#NLADA25
We stand up to the forces that try to undermine equal justice under law by intimidating judges and lawyers.
#NLADA25
October 30, 2025 at 9:01 PM
The keynote speaker for today's closing plenary session is Michelle Behnke, @americanbar.org President. She speaks on the importance of rule of law and an independent legal system:
We stand up to the forces that try to undermine equal justice under law by intimidating judges and lawyers.
#NLADA25
We stand up to the forces that try to undermine equal justice under law by intimidating judges and lawyers.
#NLADA25
