As the election heats up, it is important to note that access to justice is a bipartisan issue.

While obviously there are significant differences of perspective between the parties on matters of funding, particularly for LSC, in many states, support for access comes from wide range of stakeholders.

As so much becomes understandably caught in the political cross winds, we should remember that access appeals to universal values, and that, whoever wins the election, a strong case can be made for continuing the recent stronger federal presence in access issues, particularly the support of the Department of Justice Access Initiative for expansion of state level access to justice Commissions, and for adequate funding for broadly supported access initiatives.