Light of Justice
The Light of Justice Program was founded with the mission to assist incarcerated people to overcome barriers that would prevent judges from reviewing the merits of their cases on appeal and post-conviction.
Light of Justice works closely with incarcerated Counsel-Substitutes inside Department of Corrections facilities across the state of Louisiana to secure records and transcripts, as well as updated case law, legislation and legal materials that they do not have access to. Light of Justice also offers incarcerated people education on procedural rules and changes to the law, and assists Counsel-Substitutes with monitoring their court deadlines and the outcomes of their direct appeals.
The Light of Justice Program is currently working to expand into the parish jails. Light of Justice staff also conduct trainings and speak at conferences to educate lawyers and judges about client-centered representation and the effects of procedural hurdles that incarcerated people face when accessing the courts. Additionally, Light of Justice staff performs and publishes research to educate the public on access to the courts.
The Light of Justice Program is a core program of JSRI and contributes to JSRI’s mission: Rooted in faith that promotes justice, the Jesuit Social Research Institute empowers communities through service, research, education, and advocacy to confront the systemic issues of poverty and racial inequality.
Awards
Ascendium has awarded JSRI with a $200,000 grant to lead a year-long planning initiative to assess and improve legal education and employment pathways for currently and formerly incarcerated individuals in Louisiana. The project is rooted in the assumption that incarcerated individuals—particularly counsel substitutes—play vital legal roles within prison communities but often lack access to formal education, credentials, or employment pathways that recognize their expertise. By engaging incarcerated learners, postsecondary institutions, legal employers, and corrections officials, the planning process will seek to co-design educational options - with a particular emphasis on stackable credentials - that are responsive to learner needs, aligned with labor market opportunities, and grounded in justice.
Donations:
Click here to make an online donation to The Light of Justice Program, or click here to download a printable giving form.
JSRI publications:
The Living Memory of a Criminal Justice System's Collapse by Bidish Sarma, J.D., JustSouth Monthly, April 2025
A Second Look, A Second Chance by Bidish Sarma, J.D. & Patrick Govan, JustSouth Monthly, November 2024
The Work of the New Orleans DA’s Civil Rights Division: Giving Second Chances to Reformed Men and Women Makes Us a Better Community by Bidish Sarma, J.D., JustSouth Monthly, October 2022
Other publications:
Fighting for Relief by Bidish Sarma, J.D., Inquest, September 2025
The Light of Justice Program shines bright with new JSRI grant by Lily Bordelon, The Maroon, September 2025
Wrongly convicted, he became 'The Jailhouse Lawyer' — and helped free himself by Terry Gross, NPR: Fresh Air, July 2025