Ty Pinkins

Hosted by Mississippi Center for Justice
Sponsored by Anonymous
Service location Jackson, Mississippi
Law school Georgetown University Law Center
Issue area Pro se and other legal representation systems
Fellowship class year 2020
Program Design-Your-Own Fellowship

The Project

Ty advocated on behalf of indigent individuals in some of Mississippi’s most underserved communities by helping pro se litigants navigate the court system.

Ty’s Fellowship sought to address the desperate need of indigent litigants for civil legal representation, without which they are driven to economic subjugation. The Legal Services Corporation estimates that there is only one free lawyer for every 6,415 indigent citizens in America. With studies suggesting that litigation with representation increases a litigant’s odds by 75%, there is a growing cycle of failure for the poor and marginalized. This is particularly true in Mississippi, a state with a poverty rate of 19% (nearly 8% higher than the rest of the country) and over 50% of the population in liquid asset poverty.

Ty is dedicated to public service and committed to developing resources to help underserved communities.

Fellowship Highlights

During the two-year Fellowship, Ty:

Implemented the Justice Court Navigator program in six counties throughout the Mississippi Delta
Established regular office hours in county courthouses, offering advice to indigent litigants and serving over 750 individuals
Trained local law students, interns, and volunteer community members to serve as Justice Court Navigators
Assisted indigent litigants with understanding the justice court system and winning their cases
Attended over 730 court cases gathering statistics regarding litigants in low-income communities
Gave eight presentations to six County Boards of Supervisors and the Congressional Representative of MS-02
As a result of his presence and relationships in Delta communities, was approached by Black farmworkers about lost employment opportunities and racial discrimination, leading to MCJ’s representation of a group of farmworkers in federal litigation

Next Steps

Ty plans to remain at the Mississippi Center for Justice and continue advocating for low-income communities. He will expand the program to additional communities and will offer more presentations to local officials and organizations about the need for equal access to the justice system.