Center for Social Justice at Seton Hall Law’s Post

The Impact Litigation Clinic Outstanding Advocate Award recognized Steven Fasciale and Patrick Maley, J.D., Ph.D. for their work in the clinic supervised by Professor Jon Romberg. Steve and Patrick provided dedicated and compelling advocacy for an impoverished client who had asserted to the district court judge that his serious mental illness impaired his ability to litigate his Eighth Amendment civil rights suit against the prison where he was incarcerated. The district court judge dismissed their client’s case, explaining that he didn’t have enough information to be able to assess what role mental illness had played in their client’s discovery shortcomings. Steve and Patrick, pointing to a prior Impact Clinic case that established the legal standard under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(c), argued in a brief submitted to the Second Circuit that the district court was obligated to conduct a duty of inquiry to determine their client’s competence before simply dismissing his case for discovery non-compliance. Congratulations! 🌟 Read about the other award recipients here: https://lnkd.in/e3W5eexw

Thank you Northeast New Jersey Legal Services for hosting our Housing Justice Project summer interns at this safe housing clinic! The interns provided invaluable assistance to clients facing habitability issues in their homes.

Last week, managing attorney of the Housing Justice Project, Diane K. Smith, testified before the State Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee regarding issues with proposed legislation to differentiate between hotel guests, who may be removed without notice or court involvement, and tenants for whom the hotel is their primary residence who may only be removed from their home by a court with property jurisdiction for good cause. On behalf of the Center for Social Justice at Seton Hall Law and Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, the testimony highlighted the potential consequences of the proposed legislation: "New Jersey has long recognized that the costs of eviction to children, families, communities, and the State itself are so high that people may be displaced from their homes only by a court and with due process. People who are truly hotel guests do not have the same protections for the simple reason that they are not being removed from their home. While not the intent of this legislation, this bill, as written, will result in the displacement of families from their homes without good cause and an orderly process".

❗Waitlist Opening❗ On Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. Montclair Housing Authority will be accepting Housing Choice Voucher Program pre-applications. A total of 225 pre-applications will be accepted only online through the portal. For more information and how to apply, visit: https://lnkd.in/e5bvSyDh

Congratulations to Professor Kevin Kelly for being the recipient of the New Jersey State Bar Association's Lighthouse Award! ✨ Professor Kelly is the associate clinical professor of the Civil Litigation and Practice Clinic at the Center for Social Justice at Seton Hall Law. His practice focuses on foreclosure defense, consumer law, housing discrimination, tenants' rights, family law, and supporting survivors of domestic violence. Throughout his 26-year career as a professor, he has taught and mentored more than 400 law students. “I am extremely fortunate to have had the chance to teach and mentor students, serve the community, and work alongside so many talented, dedicated, and generous colleagues. I have done my best to help those in need, and only wish I could have done more, as there is always more to be done.”