Success in Peoria paves way for Jacksonville, statewide expansion

PEORIA - June 29, 2012. During a visit to a Peoria women's shelter today, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon announced a new pilot program that is connecting survivors of domestic violence with free legal experts using webcams and a high speed Internet connection.

Simon designed the Virtual Legal Clinic to link domestic violence survivors in underserved areas with attorneys across Illinois that specialize in family law. The survivors receive a single, free consultation via webcam using internet technology at a local shelter and learn about legal options and remedies to keep their families safe.

The Virtual Legal Clinic began at The Center for Prevention of Abuse in December and is expanding to the Crisis Center Foundation in Jacksonville this month. After the pilot program is complete with additional expansions elsewhere in the state, Simon will provide the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) with a packaged program it can use at agencies statewide.

Simon's pilot project comes at a time when funding for human services is being cut, but the Lieutenant Governor said the resource was developed in-house with materials funded by ICADV, and participating attorneys can receive free continuing education credits developed by Simon's legal staff.

"The Virtual Legal Clinic is a free, safe and ethical way to help victims of domestic violence become survivors of domestic violence," said Simon, a longtime legal advocate for domestic violence survivors. "The legal system can be overwhelming, and this service will help people take the next step toward safety and stability."

Sandra Quello Chiz is an attorney who consults with the Peoria clinic via webcam from her Manteno office. She immediately saw the benefit of the Virtual Legal Clinic in her first consultation.

"At the time of the consultation, my first client was involved in a legal battle and was fearful because she didn't understand what was happening," said Quello Chiz. "Not only did I explain to my client what was happening legally, but I was able to point her in the direction of other resources, too. The Virtual Legal Clinic is the best idea I've heard in a long time and I wish we could expand it faster."

Martha Herm, the executive director at The Center for Prevention of Abuse in Peoria, said her agency is averaging two to three consultations per month, primarily women who are new to the shelter and need legal guidance after obtaining an order of protection. The center serves 3,500 domestic violence survivors each year in Peoria, Tazwell and Woodford counties.

"Survivors often face many legal challenges and they don't know where to turn," Herm said. "If we can offer survivors a starting point - a free and confidential legal consultation - they'll know their options before making any other decisions."

The project's second site in Jacksonville serves between 350 and 400 clients in Morgan, Scott, Cass and Greene counties each year, said executive director Dona Leanard.

"Domestic violence survivors are already facing a great deal of stress and pressure, before adding in legal issues," Leanard said. "These attorneys are trained to handle domestic violence situations and can be incredibly helpful to clients that can't find help anywhere else."

Nationally, one in four women has experienced domestic violence in her lifetime, and in Illinois, nearly 40 percent of women will experience domestic violence by an intimate partner.

The Virtual Legal Clinic turnkey program should be available to ICADV member agencies (all outside of Chicago) by 2014 to fill a gap in services, Simon said. Ideal agencies are those that serve rural or underserved communities, and likely users are survivors who cannot afford a legal consultation but do not qualify for legal aid, or survivors whose alleged abusers are represented by legal aid. Legal topics for consultation include child custody and visitation, marriage and divorce, elder abuse, immigration and property issues.

This is not Simon's first foray into legal representation of domestic violence survivors. She prosecuted battery cases as a Jackson County prosecutor and founded Southern Illinois University School of Law's domestic violence legal clinic, which now has a second location at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

Congressmen introduce Resolution recognizing 150^th Anniversary of Rock Island Arsenal

Washington, D.C. - Congressmen Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and Bobby Schilling (IL-17) today introduced a bipartisan Resolution in the House of Representatives to recognize the 150^th Anniversary of the Rock Island Arsenal and its ongoing contributions to our nation's security and the Quad Cities economy.  On July 11, 1862, President Lincoln signed into law legislation that established the Arsenal.  Over the years, the workforce of the Rock Island Arsenal has equipped our men and women in uniform, and the Arsenal has long played a key role in job creation and economic development throughout the Quad Cities.

"The men and women who have worked at the Arsenal over the past 150 years have one thing in common- dedication to our nation's defense and providing for those who wear our nation's uniform," said Loebsack.  "Since it was first established, Rock Island Arsenal has played a critical role in our nation's defense and in job creation and economic development in the Quad Cities.  As we mark this historic occasion, I will continue to work with the Quad Cities community and the bipartisan, bicameral congressional delegation to ensure that Rock Island Arsenal continues its 150 year tradition of playing a central role for the Army, in equipping our troops, and in the Quad Cities."

"The Rock Island Arsenal and its hard working employees have made remarkable, vital contributions to our national security and our area's economy in the 150 years since its establishment," said Schilling. "As I've said before, the Arsenal is truly a national treasure that should be preserved and protected.  It's an honor to represent the Arsenal and the men and women it employs, and I will continue to be a strong advocate along with the folks from the Quad Cities area so that the Arsenal can be around for another 150 years."

A copy of the resolution can be found here.

Success in Peoria paves way for Jacksonville, statewide expansion

PEORIA - June 29, 2012. During a visit to a Peoria women's shelter today, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon announced a new pilot program that is connecting survivors of domestic violence with free legal experts using webcams and a high speed Internet connection.

Simon designed the Virtual Legal Clinic to link domestic violence survivors in underserved areas with attorneys across Illinois that specialize in family law. The survivors receive a single, free consultation via webcam using internet technology at a local shelter and learn about legal options and remedies to keep their families safe.

The Virtual Legal Clinic began at The Center for Prevention of Abuse in December and is expanding to the Crisis Center Foundation in Jacksonville this month. After the pilot program is complete with additional expansions elsewhere in the state, Simon will provide the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) with a packaged program it can use at agencies statewide.

Simon's pilot project comes at a time when funding for human services is being cut, but the Lieutenant Governor said the resource was developed in-house with materials funded by ICADV, and participating attorneys can receive free continuing education credits developed by Simon's legal staff.

"The Virtual Legal Clinic is a free, safe and ethical way to help victims of domestic violence become survivors of domestic violence," said Simon, a longtime legal advocate for domestic violence survivors. "The legal system can be overwhelming, and this service will help people take the next step toward safety and stability."

Sandra Quello Chiz is an attorney who consults with the Peoria clinic via webcam from her Manteno office. She immediately saw the benefit of the Virtual Legal Clinic in her first consultation.

"At the time of the consultation, my first client was involved in a legal battle and was fearful because she didn't understand what was happening," said Quello Chiz. "Not only did I explain to my client what was happening legally, but I was able to point her in the direction of other resources, too. The Virtual Legal Clinic is the best idea I've heard in a long time and I wish we could expand it faster."

Martha Herm, the executive director at The Center for Prevention of Abuse in Peoria, said her agency is averaging two to three consultations per month, primarily women who are new to the shelter and need legal guidance after obtaining an order of protection. The center serves 3,500 domestic violence survivors each year in Peoria, Tazwell and Woodford counties.

"Survivors often face many legal challenges and they don't know where to turn," Herm said. "If we can offer survivors a starting point - a free and confidential legal consultation - they'll know their options before making any other decisions."

The project's second site in Jacksonville serves between 350 and 400 clients in Morgan, Scott, Cass and Greene counties each year, said executive director Dona Leanard.

"Domestic violence survivors are already facing a great deal of stress and pressure, before adding in legal issues," Leanard said. "These attorneys are trained to handle domestic violence situations and can be incredibly helpful to clients that can't find help anywhere else."

Nationally, one in four women has experienced domestic violence in her lifetime, and in Illinois, nearly 40 percent of women will experience domestic violence by an intimate partner.

The Virtual Legal Clinic turnkey program should be available to ICADV member agencies (all outside of Chicago) by 2014 to fill a gap in services, Simon said. Ideal agencies are those that serve rural or underserved communities, and likely users are survivors who cannot afford a legal consultation but do not qualify for legal aid, or survivors whose alleged abusers are represented by legal aid. Legal topics for consultation include child custody and visitation, marriage and divorce, elder abuse, immigration and property issues.

This is not Simon's first foray into legal representation of domestic violence survivors. She prosecuted battery cases as a Jackson County prosecutor and founded Southern Illinois University School of Law's domestic violence legal clinic, which now has a second location at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

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Grassley asks US Attorney Machen about independence in handling contempt citation

Senator says Deputy AG response is invalid without review of executive privilege claim

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley is asking U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen, Jr. to explain whether he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the independence required of his position in handling the contempt resolution adopted yesterday by the House of Representatives, given that there has been no determination that every single document sought by the House subpoena is protected by the President's claim of executive privilege.  Ignoring the contempt citation before even seeing it or reviewing the particular circumstances of this case would be a sharp contrast to the independence and integrity for which Machen has been praised by many in his assignment to investigate national security leaks that may have been politically motivated.

Grassley raised these issues and asked for responses to specific questions in a letter this afternoon to Machen.  Grassley's inquiry follows last night's letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives from the Deputy Attorney General stating that the Department of Justice would take no action in response to the House resolution.

"The Deputy Attorney General's letter has put the cart before the horse," Grassley wrote today.  Grassley also said that without a particularized description of the documents being withheld or a description of the documents over which executive privilege has been asserted, the U.S. Attorney cannot reasonably make an intelligent judgment as to the validity of any privilege claim and his duty to present the citation to a grand jury.

Last week, Grassley wrote to President Obama asking for a description of the scope of the executive privilege claim he made for documents in the congressional investigation of the Fast and Furious program.  He has not received a response.

Urging independence by the U.S. Attorney as the law and accountability in government demand, Grassley also wrote, "Your independence and integrity were cited as the reason that there was supposedly no necessity to appoint a special prosecutor.  This matter [the congressional contempt citation] gives you an opportunity to live up to that high praise and prove your independence."

Click here to read the letter from Grassley to Machen.