CBA Record March-April 2021

public’s trust in the courts. If there is a highly sensitive case that the defendant does not want publicized (e.g., sexual abuse allegations, mental health concerns, etc.), the defense can still protect those details by not outlining medical records or asking to place those documents under seal. Doing so would still allow a transpar- ent record on a plea agreement as well as

foster public trust of the criminal justice system. Additionally, having transparent plea negotiations will force attorneys to focus only on the merits (or lack thereof ) of the case. If the defense wants to mitigate its case or if the prosecution wants to pursue its charges, facts will need to be put on the record. Justice Donnelly believes that LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION Notice of Grant Funds Available for Calendar Year 2022

by conducting plea negotiations on the record, each party’s position will focus on the established facts of the case, thereby creating accountability for everyone in the process, including the judge. This, in turn, will restore the public’s confidence in the criminal justice system.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announces the availability of grant funds to provide civil legal services to eligible clients during calendar year 2022. In accordance with LSC’s multiyear funding policy, grants are available for only specified service areas. The list of service areas for which grants are available, and the service area descriptions are available at https://www.lsc.gov/grants-grantee-resources/our-grant-programs/basic-field-grant/lsc-service-areas. The Request for Proposals (RFP), which includes instructions for preparing the grant proposal, will be published at https://www.lsc.gov/grants-grantee-resources/our-grant-programs/basic-field-grant on or around April 15, 2021. Applicants must file a Pre-application and the grant application through GrantEase: LSC’s grants management system. Please visit https://www.lsc.gov/grants-grantee-resources/our-grant-programs/basic-field-grant for filing dates, applicant eligibility, submission requirements, and updates regarding the LSC grants process. Please email inquiries pertaining to the LSC grants process to LSCGrants@lsc.gov.

Local Solutions. Global Reach.

CBA RECORD 17