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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Medford police join in move to body cams Some Oregon Shakespeare Festival crew members seek to unionize More kindergartners vaccinated in 2015 Book giveaway planned Saturday at Crater High School Elementary students honor local police officers Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Gold Hill man torched his foreclosed property No leads on who smashed about 20 windows in Ashland before dawn Thursday Ashland man allegedly dragged woman with vehicle Jacksonville man who summited Everest will help in Nepal relief efforts Emergency services Politics and Elections BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Medford School Board, Position 6: Curt Ankerberg vs. Janet Lightheart Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Gov. Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Education More kindergartners vaccinated in 2015 Elementary students honor local police officers Levy backers eye final push Two seats contested on Central Point School Board Neal Simon: This is a test Environment Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Residents say armed mine supporters sully Josephine County's reputation Armed protesters gather at Medford BLM office over Sugar Pine Mine dispute Jackson County's wildlife services agent seen as both killer and savior Biomass technology: Creating products out of former waste State News Cylvia Hayes public records case goes before Salem judge Fixit tag for Portland's noted Portland Building: $175 million Fee targets rail cars that haul oil, other flammables Boyfriend of psychic sentenced in con of Oregon timber heir Oregon judge goes light on repeat drunk-driving offender Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Tim Lawrence Yockey Penelope Catherine (Turner) Martens William "Bill" Geisslinger Alice Irenia (McFall) Calkins Dennis Dean Ekwall Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories 49ers keep Ducks' Armstead close to home Baffert is loaded with two blazing colts Levy backers eye final push Yreka's late homer sinks Eagles Clippers top Spurs, force Game 7 Varsity 541 College Sports National champ SOU's spring game is tonight Oregon coaches, players ready to ‘split up and play’ Donahue, Beavers down USC at home King's single lifts OSU over No. 10 USC Emmert, Silver not on same page with one-and-dones Pro Sports 49ers keep Ducks' Armstead close to home Baffert is loaded with two blazing colts Clippers top Spurs, force Game 7 Despite suitors, Titans were all in with Mariota Ravens visit area where protests started Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Wilson delivers in return of local boxing Palmer breezes to second straight men’s title Business Latest Stories Blog: Do You Want Cheese with Your Wine? Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Comcast deal dropped along with Pac-12 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option Real Estate News Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house GREEN ACRES: Southern Oregon provides escape from the maddening crowd People In Business Transportation Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Business briefs Medford airport's record run continues Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house New bosses take charge at Harry & David Dancin Vineyards covers up Opinion Latest Philip Maddocks: Candidates eager to reconnect with everyday billionaires Matthew T. Mangino: Baltimore boils over again Granlund cartoon: Cities and fire starters Our View: Bill gives ex-convicts a glimmer of hope Letters to the Editor, May 1 Editorials Our View: Bill gives ex-convicts a glimmer of hope Our View: Medical marijuana market not at risk Our View: Don't wait on public records reform Our View: Yes to faster speeds, no to lane splitting Our View: Sensation and sensibility: a balancing act Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 1 Letters to the Editor, April 30 Letters to the Editor, April 29 Letters to the Editor, April 28 Letters to the Editor, April 27 Columns Michael Gerson: A pastor's faith in Baltimore George Will: What stands in Lindsey Graham's way Dana Milbank: Billionaire politics Kathleen Parker: Comedy, tragedy and fear of free speech Michael Gerson: Weighing the baggage Hillary brings Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Guest Opinion: This Earth Day, we celebrate the Northwest Forest Plan The Medford School Board was wrong: 'American Pageant' is a political agenda, not history The Medford School Board was right: 'American Pageant' is a fine book, and the board did its homework Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone Lifestyle Latest stories Go with the (low) flow Find the starry ‘kite’ in the eastern sky Life Lessons & Loves: An ode to the sane and wonderful mothers-in-law Dr. Murray Feingold: Turn down that noise Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Food Andrea Honaker: Mexican-inspired dips for Cinco de Mayo Set a table from your local farmers market Let's do brunch! Page H. Onorato: Enjoying good food just for the fun of it Page H. Onorato: Food items appear in the funnies Home and Garden Betty Montgomery: You can have a variety of ferns in your garden Clean out household chemicals Friday and Saturday Dear Monty: 10 tips to avoid tenant complaints Home Help: Upgrade your entryway with simple DIY projects Costa Living: Basking in flower power Health Dr. Murray Feingold: Turn down that noise Health Watch: Pack your pantry with healthy items HealthStyle: It’s all in the family dinner 'Game changer' for heart patients Health Watch: Tips for protecting your eyes Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Religion briefs: Friday, April 3 Milestones and Achievements ENGAGEMENT: Sellers-James Witham's birthday bash draws hundreds for 1950s prices Charlesworth-Murphy Drizzle doesn't dampen Pear Blossom Parade spirit New Arrivals: Sunday, April 12 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories 5 picks for live entertainment Live Music in Local Clubs Master Gardener Spring Fair at The Expo Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' Camelot Theatre presents 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Theater Some Oregon Shakespeare Festival crew members seek to unionize Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' 'Much Ado' at SOU Thanks for the Memories stages 'Company' one night only Camelot Theatre presents 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Music Thunder's Edge, Steel Cranes tonight at Club 66 The Farr Side: CMAs do it right, in many ways Live Music in Local Clubs Trio Brasileiro plays Old Siskiyou Barn Interview: Offspring plays hits new and old on tour Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Master Gardener Spring Fair at The Expo A Taste of Ashland pairs food and wine at galleries Rogue Valley Earth Day 2015 Foreign language film festival set at SOU Movies Movie review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ has a lot going on Movie review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ knows how to party Catching up with the Avengers Interview: Sofia Vergara talks ‘Hot Pursuit’ Quick Flicks: ‘Cinderella,’ ‘Insurgent’ and more Dining Taqueria Picaro offers casual Mexican cuisine Restaurant inspections: April 26, 2015 Island Grindz serves up Hawaiian specialties Have you wandered down the Bear Creek Wine Trail yet? Restaurant inspections: April 19, 2015 Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Medford police join in move to body cams ... Book giveaway planned Saturday at Crater High School ... Cylvia Hayes public records case goes before Salem judge ... Medford police join in move to body cams ... Book giveaway planned Saturday at Crater High School ... Cylvia Hayes public records case goes before Salem judge ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding Comment By Elisabeth Zinser MailTribune.com By Elisabeth Zinser Posted Feb. 24, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Elisabeth Zinser Posted Feb. 24, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News It is a privilege for me to serve on the board of governors for the Oregon State Bar. I am one of four non-lawyer public members, and I strive to bring fresh perspective to an organization that serves as a steward of our state’s justice system. Having spent most of my professional life in academia, this role has afforded me quite an education. I am impressed by the dedicated and rigorous thinking, and comprehensive services found in Oregon’s State Bar. Disheartening, however, is the dramatic funding crisis in our legal aid system. Legal aid is the safety net that helps Oregon’s poor when faced with life-altering crises: domestic violence and child abuse, loss of housing, loss of wages, challenges to child custody and consumer fraud victimization. Legal aid is often a key means of escape from domestic violence. While defendants in a criminal case are guaranteed legal counsel, there is no such guarantee for those affected by these devastating civil matters. There is legal aid, if available. The legal aid system has been chronically underfunded, but it now has reached an acute crisis threshold. The recent recession brought deep cuts in several legal aid funding sources. Coupled with a 60 percent increase in Oregon’s poverty population since 2008 (eighth highest in the nation), the state estimates that we are now meeting just 15 percent of the need for civil legal services in Oregon. We know from research that the effects of legal crises on poor families can multiply. A victim of domestic violence is in greater danger of losing her home, her job, and/or her children. A recent study found that the single greatest factor in reducing domestic violence in a community is the presence of a legal aid office. The lawyers who provide legal aid stabilize communities, yet Oregon’s legal aid providers have cut staff by 20 percent and closed two offices, even as need has grown. Currently, the Oregon Legislature is considering a bill that would provide additional funding to this beleaguered system. While not a panacea, the proposed funding would bring additional support to the system and narrow the growing justice gap. House Bill 2700 makes sense also because it addresses what happens to unclaimed money in a class action lawsuit — a suit where a pool of people (the “class”) sues a defendant for alleged fraud or wrongdoing. If the defendant is found guilty or chooses to settle short of trial, the jury determines how much the defendant should pay to the class. Inevitably, some parties to the class are not found, or do not come forward. In most states, that residual money is then directed to a charity or non-profit community good. It’s a doctrine called “cy pres” (“next best thing”). Oregon is among a small minority of states that do not employ the this doctrine, and so the money goes back to the corporate defendant. This legislation would provide that 50 percent of those residual dollars would be distributed to legal aid, with the remaining 50 percent going to a charitable purpose at the discretion of the judge. I was motivated to seek this board position in large part because of my deep conviction that a fair and just system for settling disputes is a necessary foundation of a healthy community. When large swaths of our population have no hope of finding help in the midst of legal crises, we should be seeking every opportunity to rectify that injustice. I encourage broad public knowledge of this issue. Dr. Elisabeth Zinser, a member of the board of governors of the Oregon State Bar, is a retired president of Southern Oregon University and a senior fellow of the Association of American Colleges & Universities.   By Elisabeth Zinser MailTribune.com By Elisabeth Zinser Posted Feb. 24, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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