FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, June 12, 2026
Contact: Tony Mangan, Communications Director, 605-773-6878
PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces he has joined a bipartisan coalition of 40 Attorneys General in urging Congressional leaders to continue funding Legal Services Corporation (LSC), the nation's largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans.
“Everyone, regardless of their income level, is entitled to equal justice under the law,” said Attorney General Jackley. “Continued federal funding for LSC helps ensure our justice system works for everyone.”
In a letter to Congressional appropriations leaders, the coalition asked Congress to include continued funding for LSC in the fiscal year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The coalition emphasized that LSC plays a critical role in ensuring access to justice for people who cannot afford legal representation in civil matters and remains a wise investment of federal resources.
Created by Congress in 1974, LSC supports a nationwide network of 129 independent legal aid organizations operating more than 900 offices in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Nearly 95% of LSC's federal funding is distributed directly to local legal aid providers that help millions of Americans each year address critical civil legal issues involving housing, family safety, consumer protection, veterans' benefits, and disaster recovery.
The letter was led by the Attorneys General of Colorado, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Other Attorneys General joining are from: Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, the Northern Mariana Islands, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The letter to Congress can be found here: www.naag.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-LSC-Funding-Letter_FINAL.pdf
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