The Champions of Justice Gala Benefiting Veterans, held on April 25 at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin, raised $485,000 to provide civil legal services to low-income Texas veterans. The Texas Access to Justice Commission and the State Bar of Texas co-sponsored the event, and the funds raised will be distributed by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF).
Brett Busby, the TAJF liaison and Supreme Court of Texas Justice, was the master of ceremonies for the evening. Busby emphasized the importance of legal assistance for veterans facing civil legal issues and presented several awards, including the James B. Sales Boots on the Ground Award to Victor L. Hunt and Maureen O’Connell, the Harry M. Reasoner Justice for All Award to Thomas S. Leatherbury, and the Emily C. Jones Lifetime Achievement Award to TAJF Executive Director Betty Balli Torres.
During the event, Supreme Court of Texas Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht spoke about the significance of accessible legal aid for veterans in need. He also shared the video story of one of our clients, Seaman First Class Chester Robey.
Seaman Robey, a veteran who served in both the Korean War and World War II, faces significant challenges due to his poor health. Despite being mostly blind, mostly deaf, and suffering from Parkinson’s disease, he survives on his sole income from Social Security. With the help of his neighbor, he navigates his daily life as best he can. Many years ago, Seaman Robey applied for a homestead exemption for the two lots where he lived, but was informed he could only receive an exemption for one lot, where his trailer was located. Though he accepted this decision, paying the full tax rate for the second lot for 30 years, his property tax value increased so much that he faced the possibility of losing his home. He reached out to Lone Star Legal Aid’s Military and Veterans Unit for assistance. With the help of attorney Sondra Haltom, who reviewed property and tax records, Seaman Robey was able to obtain a homestead exemption for both lots and receive a tax refund. Sondra also assisted him in applying for food stamps, Medicaid, and VA pension benefits, which he was entitled to but did not know about. Thanks to Sondra’s support, Seaman Robey received the assistance he needed to ease his financial burden and improve his quality of life.
For more information about the Texas Access to Justice Commission, visit https://www.texasatj.org.
Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income and underserved populations by providing free legal education, advice, and representation. LSLA serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines, who live in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties in Southwest Arkansas. LSLA focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety, stability, health, and wellbeing; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those with disabilities, the aging, survivors of crime and disasters, the unemployed and underemployed, the unhoused, those with limited English language skills, and the LGBTQIA+ community. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at https://www.LoneStarLegal.org.
