Celebrating the Center for Equal Justice

The Center for Equal Justice has stood as a beacon of hope for over 10 years at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Huron Street in Toledo. It offers hope for people who are economically disadvantaged and need legal help that they otherwise would go without – legal help to protect their homes, safety, and access to education and to resolve other life-changing legal problems.

The Center is headquarters for Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Inc. (LAWO) and Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE), nonprofit law firms that represent people living in poverty in noncriminal cases in 32 Northwest Ohio counties. More than 19,000 individuals annually benefit from legal services provided by LAWO and ABLE, which are observing their 20th and 50th anniversaries, respectively.

“We continue to be grateful for the generosity of donors to the Center for Equal Justice building campaign. Their commitment to equal justice in Toledo resulted in a permanent place where people can turn to find legal help that protects their rights and provides legal support as they build access to opportunities in their communities,” said ABLE Executive Director Janet Hales. “We hope that donors and supporters of the CEJ are proud of what they built – a home for fairness and justice in Toledo.”

There was an open house on January 30, 2020, at 525 Jefferson Ave. that featured a short program that highlighted the history of the Center and how it supports ABLE and LAWO’s ability to have a positive impact in the Toledo community. Speakers included Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge Myron C. Duhart, Manager, and Counsel at First American Title Laurie Pangle, retired ABLE Executive Director Joseph Tafelski, ABLE Executive Director Janet Hales, LAWO Executive Director Kevin Mulder, The Junction Coalition Director Alicia Smith, and Sarah Skow, of Spengler Nathanson, PLL, and vice president of ABLE and LAWO Boards of Trustees.

“The Center for Equal Justice has allowed ABLE and LAWO to make better use of public and private funds to serve clients,” said LAWO Executive Director Kevin Mulder. “We are grateful to those who chose to invest in our services and the Center. We would not be able to serve thousands of clients across 32 counties without the Center for Equal Justice as our home.”