Since the Supreme
Court in 2014 broadened the Religious Freedom and Restoration Act (RFRA) the
nation has been locked in almost constant debate over various state and federal
versions of the 20-year-old law. This law which has been embraced by right-wing
politicians and pundits — especially religious conservatives as a model of
protecting religious freedom in the country may now in an unusual twist, help
remove the phrase “In God we trust” from
U.S. coins and paper bills. Joining me today to talk about the new legal campaign being organized by an atheist activist to use the federal RFRA to
remove the phrase “In God we trust” from U.S. coins and paper bills is Jack Jenkins the senior religion
reporter for ThinkProgress. You can also follow Jack on twitter.
According to recent studies, in well over two thirds of the critical cases in America’s civil
courts, people appear without a lawyer, even though the stakes are often just
as high as in criminal proceedings. As a result many of these people suffer
serious losses in court, but not because they've done something wrong, but
simply because they don’t have legal help.
Joining me today to discuss how the country needs many more lawyers
willing to work pro bono or for reduced rates is Martha Bergmark the founding executive director of Voices for Civil Justice who wrote all about the problem of Americans being unable to afford
legal representation in an op-ed for The Washington Post. You can also follow Martha and Voices for Civil Justice on twitter
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