Sotomayor Commends Liberal Lawsuits on Abortion, Illegal Immigration, and Welfare Reform

From a speech (p. 9) by Judge Sotomayor in June 2001:

In 1996, Congress prohibited lawyers receiving federal legal-services monies from taking on class-action lawsuits or lawsuits involving abortion, illegal immigration and welfare reform.  Commendably, I know Brooklyn Law School’s clinical programs … have redoubled their efforts to help address the need created by this legislation.  These efforts, and the volunteer efforts of other law schools, bar groups and lawyers in private law firms, are not enough.  The need is very great.