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ANGLICAN
LEGAL AID
& RECONCILIATION

A faith-based, nonprofit legal clinic ministering reconciliation to God and neighbor through low-cost legal aid across Texas.

PRACTICE AREAS

PRACTICE
AREAS

We offer the following low-cost, reconciliation-oriented legal services

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

Everyone has a story to tell. We get to know the whole person in front of us rather than just the accusations. We humanize the innocent and guilty alike by helping them to tell their stories, whether it be through plea negotiation or during a jury trial. We improve outcomes by proffering mitigation evidence to prosecutors, judges, and jurors. The criminally accused are more than the worst day of their lives.

PAROLE REPRESENTATION

We are registered with the State to provide representation during your parole review process. ALAR will work with you to collect testimony and documentation showing rehabilitation behind bars. We then present that information to the parole board during a hearing that takes place in person or over Zoom. Our goal is to demonstrate for voting members of the board that amendment of life has taken place, and how your release is in the best interest of the community.  

POST-CONVICTION WRITS

FAMILY LAW

We investigate and litigate State writs of habeas corpus for the wrongfully-convicted serving time in Texas state prisons. Importantly, this does not always require an actual innocence claim. If you have been convicted of a crime you did not commit, or if you were given an unreasonable sentence due to your trial lawyer not presenting favorable evidence at your sentencing hearing, contact us today.

We are not currently taking any new family law cases. If you are a Texas attorney and would like to work with us to provide pro bono or sliding scale legal services to underserved clients, please reach out.

OUR VISION

ABOUT ALAR

We are a faith-based, nonprofit legal clinic that ministers reconciliation by

  • listening to and respecting the accused;

  • telling the stories of the innocent and guilty alike;

  • helping offenders make restitution;

  • supporting victims and offenders to find wholeness;

  • mediating conversations between spouses;

  • connecting juvenile clients with mentoring and tutoring;

  • injecting mercy and humility into the justice system one case at a time; and

  • multiplying our efforts by training tomorrow’s ministers of justice and reconciliation.

We partner with local churches that have proven commitments to proclaiming the Gospel, duly administering the sacraments of the Church, and providing friendship and non-judgmental worship spaces to the clientele we serve.

We are headquartered at Christ Church of the Rio Grande Valley, an Anglican church in formation that offers radical hospitality to our Hidalgo County clients and their friends and families through its Saturday Holy Communion services, dinners, and fellowship events.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: ALAR is incorporated as a legal entity separate and apart from any Anglican province, diocese, or church. ALAR has its own board of directors that does not report to any boards or officials of any Anglican province, diocese, or local congregation. While the Vicar and Executive Director of ALAR is under canonical authority as a priest with respect to parish ministry, neither his bishop nor any leaders of his diocese have any legal authority over ALAR, nor can they legally direct his actions as a licensed attorney. Thus, any person or organization retaining ALAR for legal services must disclaim liability against any and all Anglican entities or officials that are not themselves agents of ALAR itself.

STATEMENT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE: Anglican Legal Aid & Reconciliation (ALAR) shall operate as a religious, not-for-profit organization. ALAR is a faith-based ministry that seeks to serve “the least” of our brothers and sisters, as commanded by Jesus Christ in Matthew 25, and the community at large. We are ministers of reconciliation (II Corinthians 5) whenever our clients’ legal issues are intertwined with interpersonal conflict, be it within a single family or between neighbors. We relieve the poor and distressed by connecting our clients to other services, and by providing low-cost legal aid to those just short of qualifying for court-appointed representation. By speaking grace and truth into the lives of our clients and their families, including at-risk juveniles, we address the root causes of family and community deterioration. Therefore, in accordance with federal definitions regarding 501(c)(3) organizations, ALAR has both a religious and charitable character that serves to lessen the burdens of government; lessen neighborhood tensions; combat community deterioration and juvenile delinquency; promote strong families; and defend the dignity, worth, and civil rights of all clients throughout the term of their legal representation. ALAR may engage in other activities aligned with this statement and the vision and mission statement of the organization, so long as said activities are lawful and permissible for tax-exempt non-profit organizations under state and federal law.

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ATTORNEYS

OUR PEOPLE

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Rector & Executive Director

Fr. John grew up in rural Western Pennsylvania, but his time in the Navy convinced him that life is better when surrounded by palm trees.

 

After serving as a nuclear reactor operator on the USS North Carolina (SSN-777), Fr. John earned a bachelor of arts degree from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (political science). He is an alumnus of Teach For America (RGV '16) and taught English and special education in two Title I schools. During that time, God confirmed a call on his life to serve others as a priest and attorney. He completed his seminary degree at Fuller Theological Seminary (MA, theology) and planted Christ Church of the Rio Grande Valley, an Anglican parish in the Diocese of All Nations (ACNA). After ordination, he used the GI Bill to complete his law degree at The University of Texas at Austin School of Law (JD).

In his free time, Fr. John is an avid curler (the sport where they sweep the ice) and singer-songwriter. He has lived in Pittsburgh, Hong Kong, Washington, D.C., Charleston, SC, and Pearl Harbor, HI, but has been proud to call Texas home for the past eight years.

The Rev'd Fr. John Goodman II, Esq.

RECTOR & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Texas Bar No. 24134581

956-377-0195

director@alartx.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Rev'd Fr. John Goodman II, Esq.

RECTOR

The Rev'd Fr. Mark Ball

ANGLICAN CLERGY-MEMBER

The Rev'd Fr. Oscar Gallegos

ANGLICAN CLERGY-MEMBER

Mrs. Retha Blocher

ANGLICAN LAY-MEMBER (SECRETARY)

Ms. Tanika J. 'T.J.' Solomon, Esq.

ATTORNEY MEMBER

VACANT

ATTORNEY MEMBER

VACANT

MEMBER AT LARGE

CONTACT

CONTACT
ALAR

OUR ADDRESS

221 E. 12th Street, Mission, Texas 78572

Email: director@alartx.org

Mobile: 956-377-0195

 

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