In January 2001, the members of the ABA Committee on State Justice Initiatives (see membership in the Acknowledgements) sent the 2001 Bar/Court Survey on Justice Improvement Activities to state supreme court chief justices and their court administrators; presidents, presidents-elect, and executive directors of state and local bar associations; and a selection of metropolitan trial court administrators. Responses were received from 123 state and local bar associations and court organizations between February and July 2001, with most responses arriving in March and April. The responses were compiled by staff of the ABA Office of Justice Initiatives.

The results do not form a comprehensive analysis of every jurisdiction. Some courts and bars checked a category as one in which they were active without providing additional detail while some had multiple activities within a category. Thus there are at least 1,196 areas of justice improvement activity underway.

A sample survey letter and survey instrument appear in the Survey Appendix.

The number one response to the survey question #5, "How can the ABA be of help?" continued to be that the ABA could best assist bars and courts with their justice improvement activities by acting as an information clearinghouse providing printed materials, technical assistance, speakers, on-line information, referrals, and a forum for the exchange of ideas. Many asked that the ABA disseminate examples of successful model projects; promote justice initiatives by convening informational meetings and forums or lobbying; or provide funding.