There is a reason that depictions of Lady Justice are blind. Our system was established with the belief that everyone, regardless of their race, sex, religion, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, deserves equal protection under the law.

As incoming House chair of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, I’ll work with my fellow committee members to increase access to justice. Too many low-income Mainers never seek or obtain justice when their rights have been violated, because costs are too high. That shouldn’t happen. We’ll work to modernize the judicial system through investments in technology, including electronic filing to make it easier for every person to defend themselves or their neighbors.

Faced with efforts to roll back progress, we’ll also fight to defend policies that enable Mainers to access comprehensive reproductive and sexual health care. We’ll work to block bills that would persecute LGBT Mainers because of who they are or who they love.

We’ll also work to protect homeowners from hasty foreclosures by bankers who have never felt the fear of being homeless. We’ll honor the public’s right to know what is happening across state government and enforce greater accountability.

And we’ll strive to ensure a fairer system for generations to come so the rights of every Mainer are unassailable. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” As chair, I enter the upcoming session devoted to ensuring justice everywhere. Thank you for the opportunity to continue serving the people of Maine.

Matt Moonen

Democratic state representative

Portland

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