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2026 Poverty Law Conference
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If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit…The Impact of Unjust Legal Financial Obligations and a Model for Justice Court Ability to Pay Determinations
Friday September 4, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Junior Ballroom
Across the country, unjust fines and fees burden millions of Americans. Rather than serving justice, these legal financial obligations trap people in poverty and prolong their involvement with the criminal justice system. Despite laws on the books that require ability to pay assessments, Texas is no exception. This is especially true in our justice courts, where defendants have no right to counsel and are often unaware of their right to have the judge determine their ability to pay and then sentence appropriately. In this session, Lisa Foster, Co-Founder and Senior Advisor of the Fines and Fees Justice Center, and Judge Steven Duble, Harris County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1, Place 2, will present on: 1. The impact of unjust fines and fees on individuals, families and communities, 2. The positive outcomes of having effective ability to pay determinations, and 3. How Harris County Justice of the Peace Court 1-2 is seeking to create a model ability to pay assessment process – one that is fair, efficient and effective. 
Speakers
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Lisa Foster

Fines and Fees Justice Center, Fines and Fees Justice Center
Lisa Foster is the Co-Executive Director of the Fines and Fees Justice Center, a national nonprofit dedicated to ending the unjust and harmful imposition of fines and fees in the criminal legal system. A retired judge, Lisa is also the former director of the Office for Access to Justice... Read More →
avatar for Judge Steve Duble

Judge Steve Duble

Justice of the Peace, Harris County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1
Steve Duble has been the Justice Peace for Harris County Precinct 1, Place 2 (located in downtown Houston) since January 1, 2023. Since taking office, he has taken bold action to increase access to justice.  He earned his undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University in 1986... Read More →
Friday September 4, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Junior Ballroom
  Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

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