JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING MAINE ATTORNEYS SAVING HOMES

WHEREAS,  the fair and equitable application of the rule of law is essential to preserving and protecting the rights and liberties of a free people; and

WHEREAS,  the Maine bar has a long and honorable tradition of ensuring that all members of the public have equal protection under the law and access to lawyers when legal services are necessary; and

WHEREAS,  the widening foreclosure crisis in Maine and around the country has brought the prospect of foreclosure to the doorstep of an unprecedented number of Maine families, threatening the loss of their principal financial asset, their homes; and

WHEREAS,  the Mortgage Bankers Association reports that the number of foreclosures in Maine is higher than at any other time since it began keeping records in 1979, and the number is increasing faster than the national average; and

WHEREAS,  the vast majority of lenders in Maine have served their communities well and have participated in constructive ways to address the problem of home foreclosures; and

WHEREAS,  foreclosure cases often require specialized legal training and preparation; and

WHEREAS,  the public interest as well as the interests of all parties involved in foreclosure proceedings are best served when trained, professional assistance is equally available to the homeowner as it is to the lender or any other stakeholder; and

WHEREAS,  the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project and Pine Tree Legal Assistance have answered the call for increased pro bono assistance by forming Maine Attorneys Saving Homes, known as MASH; and

WHEREAS,  the Maine Bar Foundation and the Office of the Attorney General have provided vital support for the MASH project; and

WHEREAS,  the MASH project promises to effectively build the legal capacity to provide pro bono legal assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure; now, therefore, be it

That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Legislature now assembled in the First Special Session, on behalf of the people we represent, take this opportunity to honor the Maine bar for its long tradition of providing pro bono legal services to those in need; and be it further

That we recognize the vital efforts of Maine Attorneys Saving Homes as the members strive to ensure legal representation for Maine homeowners facing foreclosure and we encourage all professionals with relevant experience and training to contribute their time and talents to the fair and just resolution of home foreclosure proceedings; and be it further

That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, the Maine Bar Foundation and the Office of the Attorney General.