PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has joined a bipartisan coalition of 40 attorneys general to advocate for the continued federal funding of the Legal Services Corporation, the nation’s largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans.

In a formal letter delivered to congressional appropriations leaders, the coalition requested that funding for the organization be maintained within the fiscal year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The initiative emphasizes the role the organization plays in providing access to justice for individuals facing civil legal hurdles who cannot afford private counsel.

“Everyone, regardless of their income level, is entitled to equal justice under the law,” Jackley said. “Continued federal funding for LSC helps ensure our justice system works for everyone.”

Established by Congress in 1974, the Legal Services Corporation funds a nationwide network of 129 independent legal aid organizations, maintaining more than 900 offices across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Approximately 95 percent of the federal allocation goes directly to local service providers. These entities assist families and individuals with critical civil matters including housing disputes, consumer protection, domestic safety, disaster recovery, and securing veterans’ benefits.

The collective push was spearheaded by the attorneys general of Colorado, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Joining Jackley in signing the letter were attorneys general from Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, the Northern Mariana Islands, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The letter to Congress can be found here: www.naag.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-LSC-Funding-Letter_FINAL.pdf