Texas Tech University’s School of Law has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation to support its Caprock Regional Public Defender Office & Clinic. The grant will fund the Connect Caprock Initiative, which provides laptops for rural jails in the clinic’s 12-county area. Law students will use these laptops to help indigent defendants get remote legal access and timely representation, making it easier to overcome geographical barriers.
Jack Wade Nowlin, dean of the School of Law, expressed appreciation for the grant, stating, “The Texas Bar Foundation’s support of the Connect Caprock Initiative allows our students to gain valuable hands-on experience while effectively serving those who need it most. We are truly grateful for the foundation’s ongoing support of programs that have a positive impact on both our students and the communities they serve.”
The clinic serves as a practical training ground where law students, under close supervision, manage criminal cases from start to finish for indigent defendants facing felony, misdemeanor and juvenile charges. The technology provided by this grant will enhance service delivery for defendants in rural jails and help students meet the unique challenges posed by remote and underserved regions.
“Distance should never be a barrier to justice,” said Joe Stephens, chief public defender of the Caprock Public Defender Office. “This grant from the Texas Bar Foundation allows us to leverage technology to level the playing field, ensuring that individuals in remote counties can access legal counsel in a timely and meaningful way. We are excited to see the positive impact it will have on the lives of our clients and the next generation of attorneys.”
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