Above the main entrance of the United States Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C., a phrase is plainly engraved for all to see: Equal Justice Under Law. Based on language in the first section of the Fourteenth Amendment, this phrase captures the important American ideal that every citizen, regardless of rank or wealth, can enjoy the liberties of these United States.
Some years ago, a survey was taken in some foreign nations asking about their impressions of the justice system in the U.S. Many people thought that good legal results were almost always obtained by wealthy people, while poor or underprivileged people typically received substandard justice.
As it turns out, the American system of justice is actually the international gold standard. By and large, our constitutional system of government provides an amazingly fair system for the citizenry. But it is true that people who are extremely wealthy can sometimes cause great problems for people of lesser means. For example, if a wealthy person knows he will ultimately lose a case, he may file a lawsuit anyway, knowing that the legal expenses associated with the case can deeply financially harm Christians and churches who do not have large bank accounts.
At the Christian Law Association, it is our mission to make absolutely certain that when God’s people are sued for the faith, they can be represented in court by competent attorneys, even when our clients are not wealthy. As a matter of policy, CLA never charges a single penny when we represent Bible-preaching churches who have been wrongfully sued for the faith.
Equal Justice Under Law is a great slogan, and we are thankful that it is a cornerstone of the American justice system. But we are always profoundly grateful for our supporters who make it possible for us to protect God’s people when powerful people pursue them for practicing their Biblical faith. As we have for decades, we proudly defend the rights and Christian liberty of Bible-believing Christians.