Summary of State and Local Justice Initiatives 2000

ACCESS Issues: Legal services, pro bono, indigent defense, etc.

"Because a justice system that is unavailable to substantial portions of the population is not ‘just,’ the ABA supports efforts to ensure the provision of basic legal services," notes the 1996 Agenda for Justice report on ABA policies. Most bar associations and many court organizations strive to improve the delivery of legal services to lower income individuals. These local, state and national bar efforts include, in criminal matters, adequate indigent defense services and, on the civil side, support for the existence of and adequate Congressional funding for the federal Legal Services Corporation, state funding for state efforts, increased pro bono efforts by individual lawyers and law firms, and the development of creative ways to deliver legal services to moderate income individuals.

At the request of the Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants, the Coalition for Justice, and the Committee on State Justice Initiatives, the ABA Board of Governors further responded to the national legal services crisis in l996 by beginning a joint project with the National Legal Aid and Defender Association. The State Planning Assistance Network (SPAN) helps states forge new legal services systems in light of reduced federal resources and increased restrictions on their use.

Over forty-five bars and/or courts responded they support activities involved in improving access to and delivery of legal services. Among the many programs are Alaska’s Access to Civil Justice Task Force whose final report included approximately 60 recommendations directed towards Alaska Legal Services Corporation, the private bar, the court system, other legal services providers and the state legislature.

The California Judicial Council has a number of Advisory Committees and Task Forces on Access and Fairness and Pro Bono Activities.

In Georgia, The Access to Justice Committee continues to promote the growth of pro bono services to the poor and is seeking another $2.2 million legislative appropriation for domestic legal services.

The Idaho Court Assistance Office (CAO) is a one-stop clearinghouse to access legal services and other resources for those involved in family law cases and other civil matters. There are currently Court Assistance Offices in ten of the 44 counties in Idaho.

A January 2000 Access to Justice Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana provided a forum for bar members and legal services providers to discuss and organize pro bono efforts in response to the Indiana Supreme Court’s new rule of Professional Conduct concerning pro bono.

In Louisiana the Access to Justice Directory provides listings of all providers of civil legal services to the poor, the location of their offices, the types of cases they handle, and contact information. More than 600 copies of this directory have been distributed to attorneys and providers and it is posted on the LSBA web site.

Additional information resources on access to legal services include the ABA Legal Services Division, 312/988-5749, fax 312/988-5348, Terry Brooks, Director. abalegalsvcs@staff.abanet.org and the ABA Office of Justice Initiatives Fact Sheets found at www.abanet.org/justice.

Roadmaps are available through the ABA Justice Center, 312/988-5689, justice@abanet.org.