Author Archives: richardzorza

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About richardzorza

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

The Trump Endgame Is Going To Be About the Intersection of Political and Legal Contexts, Which Together Will Work To Speed the Process

Posted on May 20, 2017 by richardzorza

There are several reasons why the received wisdom about the speed of the Trump removal process may be completely wrong.  Not surprisingly, most of the reasons relate as much to the political as to the legal context. One:  Perhaps most … Continue reading →

Posted in Dept. of Justice, History, Judicial Supremacy, White House | Comments Off on The Trump Endgame Is Going To Be About the Intersection of Political and Legal Contexts, Which Together Will Work To Speed the Process

Mary McClymont’s Inspiring Clarion Call

Posted on May 17, 2017 by richardzorza

Earlier today Mary McClymont, President of the Public Welfare Foundation, received the Champions for Justice Award from the Alliance for Justice. Here are her remarks.  I have bolded the first couple of paragraphs that focus on access to justice.  Martin … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% Access Strategy and Campaign, Access to Justice Generally | Comments Off on Mary McClymont’s Inspiring Clarion Call

Access to Justice: Why Focus On This Issue In an Era With So Many Existential Crises

Posted on May 12, 2017 by richardzorza

Sometimes we advocates for access to justice quietly admit to each other that with so many other issues threatening our planet, the poor, and our democracy, that it is hard to argue for access to justice a a funding priority. … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% Access Strategy and Campaign, Access to Counsel, Communications Strategy | Comments Off on Access to Justice: Why Focus On This Issue In an Era With So Many Existential Crises

The LSC – Pro Bono Net – Microsoft Statewide ATJ Portal

Posted on May 8, 2017 by richardzorza

Now that the pilot states for the ATJ Statewide Portal Project have been announced as the two states of Alaska and Hawaii, we can start to see what it is all going to look like. At a minimum, it helps … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% Access Strategy and Campaign, Court Management, Funding, Legal Aid, Technology, Triage | Comments Off on The LSC – Pro Bono Net – Microsoft Statewide ATJ Portal

Algorithm Bias and Algorithm-Based Bias Compensation

Posted on May 8, 2017 by richardzorza

As part of my series on algorithm bias, I want to offer what I think is a potentially revolutionary take on using algorithms not just to minimize, but actually to compensate for, bias and discrimination. The core idea is that … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Bias, Discrimination, Judicial Ethics, Metrics, Race | 1 Comment

Towards A Principles-Driven Approach to Algorithm-Based Decision-Making in the Justice System

Posted on May 1, 2017 by richardzorza

A very recent article by Adam Liptak in the New York Times draws attention to the actual practice in Wisconsin of using algorithm-driven predictions in sentencing, and to the pending attempt to otbain review of the practice by the US … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Criminal Law, Discrimination, Research and Evalation, Security, Technology, Transparency | 2 Comments

100% Access to Justice Strategic Planning — a Forms Component Template

Posted on May 1, 2017 by richardzorza

The Justice for All Strategic Planing and Guidance, being used by the seven grantee states,  and others on a more informal basis, includes a number of key components. (List at page 5 in cover Memo.)  One of the most important … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% Access Strategy and Campaign, Access to Justice Boards, Court Management, Forms | 4 Comments

Assessing a Justice for All Strategic Plan

Posted on April 21, 2017 by richardzorza

With a powerful tool kit out there to help states engage in 100% access to justice strategic planning, and with states now engaged in the process (and not only those with grants from the JFA Project), I thought it might … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% Access Strategy and Campaign, ABA, Access to Justice Boards, Funding | Comments Off on Assessing a Justice for All Strategic Plan

National Academy Report On Need for Strategy to Understand Impact of Technology on Economy and Employment Suggests Need to Go Further

Posted on April 17, 2017 by richardzorza

As reported in the New York Times, and elaborated in Nature, a panel of the National Academies has called for a national approach to data to understand and manage the impact of technology on the economy and jobs.  As Nature … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% Access Strategy and Campaign, Court Management, Document Assembly, Non-Lawyer Practice, Research and Evalation, Science, Simplification, Systematic Change, Technology, Triage | Comments Off on National Academy Report On Need for Strategy to Understand Impact of Technology on Economy and Employment Suggests Need to Go Further

Prosecutors Getting Rid of the Independent Commission on Forensic Science is Short-Sighted as well as Incomprehensible.

Posted on April 11, 2017 by richardzorza

I simply offer you this cross examination of every investigator or expert: Q.   Thanks for your testimony, I am sure it will help the jury, but just a few things to clear up.  When did you get your training in … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Law, Defender Programs, Dept. of Justice, Policing, Science, Technology, White House | Comments Off on Prosecutors Getting Rid of the Independent Commission on Forensic Science is Short-Sighted as well as Incomprehensible.

ICE Policy Insults Courts by Not Treating Them as “Sensitive Locations.” This Calls for Far More Forceful Response By National Access and Court Organizations.

Posted on April 3, 2017 by richardzorza

This from the ICE FAQ page says it all: Are courthouses sensitive locations? Courthouses do not fall under ICE or CBP’s policies concerning enforcement actions at or focused on sensitive locations. In other words, courts are not the kind of … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitution, Court Management, Immigration, Judicial Supremacy, Self-Help Services, White House | Comments Off on ICE Policy Insults Courts by Not Treating Them as “Sensitive Locations.” This Calls for Far More Forceful Response By National Access and Court Organizations.

A Contrarian View on Libel Law — Dealing with The Situation in Which The Courts Should Be Available to Establish The Truth, and Cheaply, While Making Sure that Libel Law Remains a Tool That Can Be Used By Truth Seekers To Counter Merchants of Hate

Posted on March 30, 2017 by richardzorza

So the great and the good (and me, this time) get all upset when Trump talks about loosening libel law.  It not only fits with his ignorant aggrieved victim persona, but can be very effective at intimidating critics. But maybe … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitution, Libel Law, Supreme Court, White House | Comments Off on A Contrarian View on Libel Law — Dealing with The Situation in Which The Courts Should Be Available to Establish The Truth, and Cheaply, While Making Sure that Libel Law Remains a Tool That Can Be Used By Truth Seekers To Counter Merchants of Hate

Mary McClymont’s Governing Magazine Op-Ed Moves the Chief’s Resolution and Justice For All Message to the Other Branches

Posted on March 30, 2017 by richardzorza

I suspect that most in the non-judicial branches are still largely unaware of the the Chiefs’ 100% Resolution, making access to justice the office bi-partisan policy of the United States, let alone that they have thought about the implications for … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% Access Strategy and Campaign, Access to Justice Boards, Communications Strategy, Dept. of Justice, Funding, LAIR, Systematic Change | 1 Comment

Guest Blogger Claudia Johnson: What I’ve learned in the past 9 years of helping legal aid, courts, and other non-profits create online forms to promote Access for All

Posted on March 27, 2017 by richardzorza

What I’ve learned in the past 9 years of helping legal aid, courts, and other non-profits create online forms to promote Access for All Claudia C. Johnson* While working across the U.S. in supporting states and courts adapt online forms … Continue reading →

Posted in Document Assembly, Guest Bloggers, Self-Help Services, SRLN, Technology, Tools | 2 Comments

SRLN Announces Forms Competition

Posted on March 24, 2017 by richardzorza

The SRLN Forms & Technology Working Group is holding its first ever Civil Legal Problems Forms Contest.  There are two categories in the competition: Best Static Form Best Automated Form This is a great opportunity to be part of an … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% Access Strategy and Campaign, Access to Justice Generally, Document Assembly, Forms, SRLN | Comments Off on SRLN Announces Forms Competition