“AJC is proud to serve our communities alongside attorney Matthew Bender as he works to create change for some of the people most harmed by our criminal punishment system. It’s never easy to change the status quo, and yet it always needs improving. Matt’s the kind of attorney who listens to the people who feel the need for change in a real way. Please read below about his aspirations and support his work if you have the capacity to do so.”
Matt Bender’s advocacy lawyering plans include:
a- $1,500 to pay a law student licensed to practice under a supervising attorney (Rule XV in Arkansas) to work on pro bono criminal cases at a rate of $15/hr. $15 is what Washington County pays law students that work for local government offices, so we are using this amount as the market rate. This will only go to work on criminal or criminal appellate/post-conviction cases, and not any civil forfeiture cases.
b-$150 for a one-year Zoom account for pro bono projects. This is important so we can work on pro bono projects safely during COVID.
c- $1,000 for litigation related to public access and the Freedom of Information Act
d- $1,000 for litigation related to safeguarding/creating fair and diverse juries
e- $1,000 for litigation related to providing the right to counsel to defendants at the first appearance in Arkansas
f- $500 to create a working database of people in Arkansas prisons who are serving life (or effective life under a habitual enhancement) in prison for drug offense convictions. This will help launch more post-conviction litigation and raise awareness about the excessive use of habitual enhancements as a "trial penalty."
g-$500 for social workers and investigator services on pro bono criminal cases
The Arkansas Justice Collective will be the pass through organization and disperse funds based on itemized invoices. If you want to donate and designate it to a specific cause or make a non-public donation, please contact Matt at mattbender87@gmail.com.
If you would like to volunteer to work on any of these issues, please contact Matt as well.