Attention all citizens!

If you do not have access to the benefits of the rule of law, then how can you be expected to have much respect for it? Mass rallies by immigrants these past few days serve as stark examples of the underserved millions of our country's inhabitants (regardless of citizenship status) who will, along with the rest of us, determine the future directions of our collective society. Will they be law abiding? Not if they start off as felons, and not if there are no pro bono lawyers willing to help them. It's as simple as that. I remember thinking many years ago that the newly enacted federal 55 m.p.h. speed limit law would make law breakers for the first time out of a huge number of previously law abiding citizens. This would not be good, I thought then, because respect for the law is essential to our social fabric, and it's awfully hard to respect the law when you break it every day on the way to work. Just as no one should be above the law, no one should be beneath it. These folks need our help, not the back of our hand. Let's give it to them, pro bono publico.