In city and state opinion, Katayun I. Yafari, Prime Minister of the Philadelphia Bar Association, argues that public transport is an integral part of the functional judicial system and that the Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Agency (SEPTA) budget could have a negative impact on criminal and civil courts.
As Septa prepares to cut services by 45%, Jaffari points out that 40% of the city’s first judicial ward jury will use Septa to go to court. “Without SEPTA as an option, it would be more difficult for ju apprentices to report, and some choose not to dilute the pool of ju apprentices and directly affect the rights of fair and representative ju apprentices at all.” For those who have to travel to court for appearances such as lawsuits or witnesses, the lack of accessible transport can mean a fine or arrest warrant. On the part of civil courts, parents filing custody petitions often have to travel to various courts or offices to attend hearings.
“Every day, Philadelphia courts and legal experts handle cases where lives and livelihoods are literally at a crisis. A fierce cut to septa widens the fair gap between litigators and those without means, making it difficult for people working in the legal profession to effectively serve their clients,” Yafari said.
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