Monthly Archives: September 2014

Pro Bono Could Lead the Way in Resolving the Struggle for the Soul of the Legal Profession

Posted on September 27, 2014 by richardzorza

I have been up in Canada to address the excellent National Pro Bono gathering in Regina Saskatchewan, and hearing about the many pro bono and court innovations moving forward there, as well as from Justice Thomas Cromwell of their Supreme … Continue reading →

Posted in Judicial Ethics, Non-Lawyer Practice, Pro Bono, Systematic Change | Tagged | 1 Comment

Governing Magazine Spreads the ATJ Message Beyond Courts With Article on NY CJ Lippman

Posted on September 21, 2014 by richardzorza

It has long been a goal of the more visionary access to justice commissions, now joined by Voices for Civil Justice, to spread the ATJ message beyond courts to other government actors.  So it is particularly good news that there … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Access to Justice Generally | 1 Comment

American Assoc of Law Libraries Issues Report on Acess to Justice

Posted on September 20, 2014 by richardzorza

An important step from a very significant ally in the access coalition.  The American Association of Law Libraries has issued Law Libraries and Access to Justice, which was drafted by a special committee of the Association. The Report brings together … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Libraries | Comments Off on American Assoc of Law Libraries Issues Report on Acess to Justice

Pending Supreme Court Case Could Put Limits on Integrated Bar’s Ability to Limit NonLawyer Activities

Posted on September 18, 2014 by richardzorza

David Udell points out this fascinating pending Supreme Court case, that had passed me by. On October 14, 2014, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners v. Federal Trade Commission, which raises the issue whether a … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-Trust, Legal Ethics, Non-Lawyer Practice | Comments Off on Pending Supreme Court Case Could Put Limits on Integrated Bar’s Ability to Limit NonLawyer Activities

Highlights and Thoughts on the LSC 40th Anniversary

Posted on September 18, 2014 by richardzorza

Earlier this week, LSC had its 40th anniversary shebang in DC. As I understand it, the primary goal was to establish LSC and federal funding of community-based legal aid as a permanent bi-partisan commitment.  It certainly moved us a long … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, LSC | 1 Comment

Briefly I Really Was the National Poster Child for Aging!

Posted on September 13, 2014 by richardzorza

Yes, really, for a short time, if you went to the National Institute on Aging website, you got so see a photo of me in front of a laptop and holding a phone. (Here is a link to the photo … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Interesting Expansion of Access to Justice Interest in the Political Sphere

Posted on September 11, 2014 by richardzorza

This blog has long urged greater engagement with the political sphere to expand access to justice.  So it is good news that the New York City Council has established a Committee on Courts and Legal Services.  To quote the press … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Political Support | 3 Comments

Good News on Electric Shock Judge

Posted on September 10, 2014 by richardzorza

Judge Nalley is now history.  I have just received the following from the Office of Communications and Public Affairs of the Maryland Courts. Good afternoon, Richard. I know you’ve been writing about Judge Nalley on your Access to Justice blog. … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal Ethics | 3 Comments

Judge Orders Self-Represented Litigant To Be Given Electric Shock

Posted on September 9, 2014 by richardzorza

This blog tries to avoid sensational horror stories about the courts, but this one is sui generis.  From the Washington Post. Delvon L. King was acting as his own attorney in a gun-possession case when Charles County Circuit Court Judge … Continue reading →

Posted in Judicial Ethics | 3 Comments

LSC Announces Pro Bono Innovation Grants

Posted on September 9, 2014 by richardzorza

LSC has just announced its first pro bono innovation awards, funded by a special line in the LSC appropriation.  These grants follow the TIG model, they are discretionary and competitive, and intended to be innovative. This years grants cover the … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, LSC, Pro Bono, Technology | Comments Off on LSC Announces Pro Bono Innovation Grants

Guest Blogger Dave Pantzer on “What can a surgeon, a jet pilot, and a construction foreman teach us about the legal profession?”

Posted on September 6, 2014 by richardzorza

This post from guest blogger Dave Pantzer discusses Atul Gawande’s 2009 book The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right, and suggests that the legal profession take seriously the challenges and opportunities set forth in the book. Anthony DeFilippo almost … Continue reading →

Posted in Systematic Change | 2 Comments