Author Archives: richardzorza

About richardzorza

I am deeply involved in access to justice and the patient voice movement.

Roberts Choice of Garland to Head Executive Committee of Federal Judicial Conference is a Huge ATJ Opportunity

Posted on November 23, 2017 by richardzorza

In what many would consider a “class act,” Chief Justice Roberts recently appointed Chief Judge of the DC Circuit Judge Garland to chair the Executive Committee of the Federal Judicial Conference. As the release explains: The 26-member Judicial Conference is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Federal Courts, LSC | Comments Off on Roberts Choice of Garland to Head Executive Committee of Federal Judicial Conference is a Huge ATJ Opportunity

Simply Brilliant — Florida Bar Foundation and SRLN Maps Show Hurricane Impacts and Legal Vulnerability

Posted on November 9, 2017 by richardzorza

I do not think of myself as someone who “gushes” about every innovation, but this is so wonderful. If you were ever skeptical about the value of mapping and GIS for access to justice, just look at these and change … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% Access Strategy and Campaign, Access to Justice Boards, Census Bureau, Legal Aid, Mapping/GIS, Research and Evalation, SRLN, Technology | Comments Off on Simply Brilliant — Florida Bar Foundation and SRLN Maps Show Hurricane Impacts and Legal Vulnerability

Thoughts on the Shriver Study

Posted on November 4, 2017 by richardzorza

It is now several months since the California Shriver Pilot Report was issued.  The findings and recommendations concerning benefits of counsel have been widely disseminated. (Report announcement summary here) So, I want to here highlight some of the findings that … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Access to Justice Generally, Court Management, Document Assembly, E-filing, Legal Aid, Self-Help Services | Comments Off on Thoughts on the Shriver Study

Oral History Interview Fragment: Future of Access to Justice

Posted on November 3, 2017 by richardzorza

Last week, I was honored to be interviewed by Alan Houseman for the oral history project of the National Equal Justice Library. I will be posting fragments that folks might find useful. This first one actually comes near the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, History, Legal Aid, LSC, Non-Lawyer Practice, Referral Systems, Systematic Change, video | 2 Comments

That Defendant Gates Is Looking for a Lawyer Can Only Mean that a New Conflict With Manafort has Now Become Clear

Posted on October 30, 2017 by richardzorza

This is really weird.  A defendant in a very high profile case, Gates, goes into court today essentially without a lawyer and has a public defender stand up for him on a very short term basis.  Its not a cost … Continue reading →

Posted in Attorney-Client, Criminal Law, Defender Programs, Dept. of Justice, Federal Courts, Legal Aid, Legal Ethics | Comments Off on That Defendant Gates Is Looking for a Lawyer Can Only Mean that a New Conflict With Manafort has Now Become Clear

Guest Post From Claudia Johnson On Washington ATJ Plan Including Racial Equity

Posted on October 15, 2017 by richardzorza

Claudia writes: (Sorry for the Richard Zorza delay here in publishing.) The Access to Justice Board of WA State just adopted a new State plan for the Delivery of Legal Services for the 2018 to 2020 working period. It is is an … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% Access Strategy and Campaign, Access to Justice Boards, Access to Justice Generally | Comments Off on Guest Post From Claudia Johnson On Washington ATJ Plan Including Racial Equity

Seventh Circuit’s Response to Judge Posner Misses the Point

Posted on September 16, 2017 by richardzorza

The Seven Circuit, through Judge Wood, has responded to Judge Posner’s criticism of the Court’s approach to those without lawyers as follows: First, while [Judge Posner] is certainly entitled to his own views about such matters as our Staff Attorney’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Appellate Practice, Defender Programs, Federal Courts, Judicial Ethics, Non-Lawyer Practice | 1 Comment

More on Judge Posner’s Apostasy

Posted on September 11, 2017 by richardzorza

This from Adam Liptak in the Times on Judge Posner’s resignation speaks for itself (read the whole piece, please). “About six months ago,” Judge Posner said, “I awoke from a slumber of 35 years.” He had suddenly realized, he said, … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Access to Justice Generally, Appellate Practice, Books, Federal Courts, Pro Bono | 1 Comment

A Revolution on the Federal Judiciary About Treatment of Those Without Lawyers?

Posted on September 10, 2017 by richardzorza

An ABA Journal article, could open a whole front in access to justice: [Judge Posner] abruptly announced his retirement from the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, effective the next day. The reason is due to “difficulty” with his … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Federal Courts, Self-Help Services, Systematic Change | 2 Comments

A Broader Branding Perspective for Access to Justice — Service and Change

Posted on September 9, 2017 by richardzorza

I think it may be time to think our way through to a new and broader way we think and talk about our movement.  These suggestions are based on assumptions that I list below, that are strongly supported by the … Continue reading →

Posted in ABA, Access to Justice Generally, Bar Associations, Chasm with Communities, Communications Strategy, Legal Aid, Non-Lawyer Practice, Political Support, Public Welfare Foundation, Systematic Change | 1 Comment

Guest Blog From Claudia Johnson on Smartphone Usage

Posted on September 7, 2017 by richardzorza

From Claudia, quoting a new Pew Report. “As  is true of the population more broadly, smartphones play an especially prominent role in providing online access to blacks and Hispanics with relatively low household incomes. Only around half of blacks and Hispanics from … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Guest Bloggers, Mobile Technology, Technology | Comments Off on Guest Blog From Claudia Johnson on Smartphone Usage

A Small Caution for Trump on the Pardon Power With Respect to Federal Contempts

Posted on August 21, 2017 by richardzorza

It does appear to be good law that even Federal Court criminal contempts are pardonable by presidents.  (I had  thought there might be a separation of power claim.) However, the Supreme Curt has hinted, back in 1925, that a pattern … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Constitution, Contempt, Criminal Law, Federal Courts, White House | Comments Off on A Small Caution for Trump on the Pardon Power With Respect to Federal Contempts

The Charlottesville Victim Was a Paralegal

Posted on August 13, 2017 by richardzorza

Here is my politics post in her honor: If anyone worries about the future of the world, just look into Ms. Heyer’s eyes. (Photo from Facebook, and in other media.) That gentleness and strength, as detailed in these two articles, … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Love, Race | Comments Off on The Charlottesville Victim Was a Paralegal

Speculative Thoughts on Changing Lawyers in Mid-Case — Manafort Edition

Posted on August 10, 2017 by richardzorza

I want to draw your attention to the some specific language in the Politico story on Paul Manafort’s change of lawyers, quoting a Manafort spokesman (see especially my bold language): A spokesman confirmed the change. “Mr. Manafort is in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Access to Justice Generally, Attorney-Client, Criminal Law, Dept. of Justice, Judicial Ethics, Legal Ethics | Comments Off on Speculative Thoughts on Changing Lawyers in Mid-Case — Manafort Edition

Medicaid Survival Has Critical Messages for Access to Justice Strategy

Posted on July 31, 2017 by richardzorza

For decades, legal aid advocates were terrified of the potential political appeal and horrendous damage that block granting Medicaid would do. We feared that as a “poor people’s program” it would have few defenders and no voting clout. We were … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally | Comments Off on Medicaid Survival Has Critical Messages for Access to Justice Strategy