Chief Justice Marshall Addresses Crowd of 300 at MLAC’s 25th Anniversary Celebration

BOSTON, May 14 – On Tuesday, May 13, the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC) held its 25th Anniversary Celebration at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. Nearly 300 guests attended including current and former staff of Massachusetts legal aid programs; current and former MLAC board members; several federal judges; and state legislators, Rep. Peter Koutoujian, Rep. Charles Murphy and Sen. Marian Walsh.

Robert Foster, chair of MLAC’s board of directors and counsel at Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster, served as the emcee for the speaking program of the evening. Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court was the featured speaker.

MLAC awarded Ethel “Peggy” Santos of Dorchester, a community activist and longtime client representative on the MLAC board of directors, with a Lifetime Achievement Award. She recently finished serving two consecutive five-year terms.

Directors of MLAC-funded programs presented a silver bowl to MLAC’s Executive Director Lonnie Powers, who has served the organization since its conception. He spoke of MLAC’s foundation, “When the General Court enacted and the Governor signed the MLAC statute into law, it was for the purpose of making society more nearly just, of ensuring that when decisions are made affecting the lives of low-income people in Massachusetts they will be just decisions.” He also addressed the growing need for civil legal aid, given the current economic challenges facing families, threatening homes and jobs.  

Established by the state legislature in 1983, MLAC is the largest funding source for civil legal aid programs in Massachusetts, helping to ensure that those who need it have access to legal information, advice and representation.