Martin Echtler, Lota Ofodile, Alia Sisson and Tim Deveney at Alia’s Confirmation
Liberty and Justice for All
by Alia Sisson, Precious Blood Volunteer
“I practice the “highest” law in the “highest” court,
the law of charity in the court of heaven.”
– Sr. Nirmala Joshi, m.c.
As I gear up for the biggest test of my life, the Ohio
bar exam, I find the above quote comforting. Not be-
cause if I fail then I can quip, “Oh, it’s okay, I practice
the law of charity in the court of heaven,” but because
it is a reminder of the ultimate truth: God’s law. While
I am honored and privileged to be a future lawyer, I
pray that my vocation will not only keep a roof over
my head, but also enable me to be an agent of char-
ity through the legal system. While it is important to
have a fulfilling career, my highest ambition is to be a
conduit of the Holy Spirit to those whom I serve.
With a political science degree and three years of
formal legal training, you could say I am a big propo-
nent of “law and order.” However, I cannot deny that
we live in a country with a dark history in which some
were—and still are—considered “more equal than
others” (in the prescient words of George Orwell).
Even our language about certain groups of people
betrays our true feelings. Depending on whether you
call people “illegal aliens” or “undocumented im-
migrants,” I can pretty much predict your views on
immigration policy. Despite the distinctions drawn
by U.S. law, I am reminded that under God’s law we
are all His children and worthy of safety, love, and
respect. While it is important to follow the law, blind
obedience to unjust laws does not serve the interest of
justice for the human family.
In my placement through Precious Blood
Volunteers, I assist the attorneys at Legal Aid in ap-
plying Missouri law to the facts of each individual’s
case. However, we also practice the law of charity—
Legal Aid only helps those too poor to afford a law-
yer. We receive hundreds of calls and referrals each
week from people in desperate need of legal help
with issues ranging from housing to child custody
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April 2018 • The New Wine Press • 9