Announcement: Justice Reform Foundation Partners with Texas A&M University School of Law to Open Criminal Defense Clinic
From left to right: Justin Magnuson, JRF Founder and President; Sarah Magnuson, JRF Board Secretary and Chair of Fundraising and Marketing; Fatma Marouf, Texas A&M Professor and Clinic Director, Immigrant Rights Clinic; Sara Zampierin, Texas A&M Professor and Clinic Director, Civil Rights Clinic; Alyssa Altonaga, JRF Board Member and Chair of Legal Education and Programming.
Over the last year, the Justice Reform Foundation has been working toward opening a Criminal Defense Clinic at Texas A&M University School of Law. The JRF is a Texas-based non-profit organization dedicated to increasing equity and fairness in the criminal justice system, and was founded by one of my former clients and dear friend, Justin Magnuson (left), after my co-counsel and I secured his release from pre-trial detention and the dismissal of the original federal indictment filed against him. While he was in jail, Justin saw how unfairly the system treats accused people, particularly those around him who could not afford an attorney. After being released, Justin decided that he wanted to help those who do not have the resources that he had to fight his case. I am honored to serve as the JRF’s Chair of Legal Education and Programming.
The Criminal Defense Clinic will be a significant resource for Tarrant County, Texas—the largest county in the United States that does not have a public defender’s office — as well as neighboring DFW counties. The Clinic will be run by a staff attorney, the Justice Reform Foundation Practitioner-in-Residence, who will oversee the students’ work on criminal cases. The Clinic’s clients will be able to receive effective and zealous advocates without having to pay a penny.
Additionally, starting this Fall, the JRF Practitioner-in-Residence will work with the JRF and other Texas A&M professors to develop the JRF Clean Slate Program, which will focus on expungement and sealing of records as well as Second Chance policy and legislative reform. The Clean Slate Program will open in Fall 2024, and the Criminal Defense Clinic will open in January 2025.
The importance of having a Criminal Defense Clinic in Tarrant County cannot be emphasized enough—the vast majority of people who are arrested and charged cannot afford an attorney. Because the U.S. Constitution guarantees every accused person the right to effective assistance of counsel, it is imperative that every person have access to compassionate and diligent defenders. The Clinic’s clients will have access to a top-notch legal team at one of the best law schools in Texas.
April is not only Second Chance Month—it is also the 2 year anniversary of Justin’s release. As an attorney, it is not every day that you get to see the domino effect of your hard work. The pride I felt watching Justin walk out of jail as a free man has doubled as I’ve watched the good he has done for his community through the JRF. It’s an important reminder that the people we help as attorneys can go on to help so many people. I could not be more proud to work alongside my fellow board members and Texas A&M in the development of this Clinic and all of the future programs we develop through this partnership.
