Category Archives: Chasm with Communities

Study Showing Greater Racial Bias By Republican Judges Has to Shatter Our Assumptions

Posted on May 28, 2018 by richardzorza

I was getting ready to draft a rebuttal to an article from the New York Times, Would you go to a Republican Doctor, reporting a study that “knowing about people’s political beliefs did interfere with the ability to assess those … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Bias, Chasm with Communities, Discrimination, Federal Courts | 1 Comment

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

Cop House Lawyers Ordered In Chicago

Posted on March 14, 2017 by richardzorza

This could be the begining of a major change.  As few outside the criminal justice system know, in the US most people without resources do not get to talk to a lawyer until shortly before they see a judge. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Bail, Chasm with Communities, Criminal Law, Defender Programs, Policing, Public Defender, Research and Evalation | Comments Off on Cop House Lawyers Ordered In Chicago

Launching of National Center For Access To Justice Highlights Criminal/Civil Overlap and Opportunities

Posted on November 3, 2016 by richardzorza

The recent launch of the National Center for Access to Justice at Fordham Law School is a good illustration of the progress we are making in getting beyond the traditional and incomprehensible “wall,” between civil and criminal ATJ issues.  Those … Continue reading →

Posted in Chasm with Communities, Criminal Law, Defender Programs, Dept. of Justice, Legal Aid, LSC | 1 Comment

More Dramatic Statistics on Representation Imbalance for Collection, Landlord/Tenant, and Small Claims

Posted on September 20, 2016 by richardzorza

Recently, I blogged about some numbers derived from NCSC data for representation status and imbalance.  The numbers are stunning, here, and here.  As I put it then: We Now Have the Data That shows That The One-Side-Self-Represented Case is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bankruptcy, Chasm with Communities, Debt Collction, Evictions, Small Claims, SRL Statistics | 3 Comments

Estimating Impact on Economic Mobility From Court Fees System

Posted on August 31, 2016 by richardzorza

Today’s Times has a highly pertinent piece on the dramatic effect of court fees and costs on those caught in the juvenile justice system.  Obviously it relates deeply to all the economic burdens that the legal system is imposing on … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Chasm with Communities, Court Fees and Costs, Metrics | 3 Comments

Would Having Famous White Actors Re-Enact Being the Shooting Victims Help Change White Attitudes?

Posted on July 14, 2016 by richardzorza

It is great that celebrities are being used to draw attention to the wide variety of situations in which Black people can be shot by cops in the US. But surely it would be more of an opinion changer if … Continue reading →

Posted in Chasm with Communities, Constitution, Criminal Law, Policing | 2 Comments

Lisa Foster’s ATJ Commissions Meeting Speech Focuses on Big Changes

Posted on May 15, 2016 by richardzorza

Lisa Foster’s speech at the ATJ’s Commission focus not on the usual self-congratulation, but on the encourages big changes in focus and vision.  While I did not travel to Chicago for the Conference this year, just the text alone conveys … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% Access Strategy and Campaign, Access to Justice Generally, Budget Issues, Chasm with Communities, Dept. of Justice, LAIR, Legal Aid, Litigant Voice, Media, Mediation, Medical System Comparision, Poverty, Reentry, Self-Help Services, Simplification, SRLN, Systematic Change, Technology, video, White House | Comments Off on Lisa Foster’s ATJ Commissions Meeting Speech Focuses on Big Changes

Council of Economic Advisors Report on Costs and Benefits of Incarceration Versus Other Approaches Incudes Excellent Arguments for Broader Impact of Access to Civil Justice

Posted on April 29, 2016 by richardzorza

When the White House Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) speaks, the world listens. And, indeed, when the CEA issued Economic Perspectives on Incarceration and the Criminal Justice System, it was a very big deal. What was unusual was that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Budget Issues, Chasm with Communities, Criminal Law, expungement, Family Law, Legal Aid, Outcome Measures, Poverty, Research and Evalation, Science, White House | 3 Comments

DOJ Dear Colleague Letter on Fines and Forfeiture is Another Game Changer

Posted on March 14, 2016 by richardzorza

As the Times reports, DOJ has issued and sent to all the state chief  justices and state court administrators a Dear Colleague letter on the subject of court fines and fees.  The helpful and positive tone of the letter is … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Bail, Chasm with Communities, Court Fees and Costs, Funding, Judicial Ethics | 2 Comments

Guest Blogger Jim Burdick Blogs on Nieghborhood Legal Centers, Medical Partnering and Beyond

Posted on December 21, 2015 by richardzorza

The recently described Neighborhood Legal Information Centers in New York (Posted on December 4, 2015 by Richard Zorza) represent a major step forward in helping the disadvantaged. Proximity of help from advocates for common legal problems offers a big advantage. … Continue reading →

Posted in Chasm with Communities, Medical System Comparision, Self-Help Services, Technology | Comments Off on Guest Blogger Jim Burdick Blogs on Nieghborhood Legal Centers, Medical Partnering and Beyond

CJ Lippman Announces Neighborhood Legal Information Centers — Implications and Possibilities

Posted on December 4, 2015 by richardzorza

This ground-breaking news, once again from the New York Courts.  As the press release puts it: [The] Network of Walk-in Storefronts Will Be First of Its Kind in New York and the Nation to Bring Basic Legal Information, Assistance and … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Chasm with Communities, Court Management, Legal Aid, Non-Lawyer Practice, Self-Help Services, Technology, Triage | 1 Comment

Jim Greiner’s Comment on the Inherent Conflict Respresented by Funding Public Defenders by Fees Charged Defendant’s and My Response

Posted on September 21, 2015 by richardzorza

Jim Greiner has submitted a brilliant and challenging comment on my recent post about the funding of 41% of the New Orleans Public Defender from court fines, fees and assessments.  It is worth very serious consideration.  Here is the full … Continue reading →

Posted in Attorney-Client, Bail, Budget Issues, Chasm with Communities, Commentators, Court Management, Criminal Law, Defender Programs, Political Support, Poverty, Public Defender | 4 Comments

ATJ Commissions Planning Survey Shows Energy, Common Directions and Interest in Multi-State Networking

Posted on July 29, 2015 by richardzorza

After the Access to Justice Commissions meeting this spring in Austin, the Commissions were invited to respond to a brief survey as to their interest in following up on the areas for possible initiatives that had been the focus of … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Chasm with Communities, Communications Strategy, Court Fees and Costs, Funding, Legal Aid, Metrics, Planning, Self-Help Services, Simplification, Technology | 1 Comment

Rapid California Court Rule Action Shows Momentum is Building on Fines and Fees Issue

Posted on June 8, 2015 by richardzorza

Here is the story.  On May 1, the Fresno Bee ran a story under the headline: ACLU: Traffic-ticket policy by Valley courts unconstitutional.  The core of the story follows: A court policy of making Valley traffic offenders pay fees upfront … Continue reading →

Posted in Chasm with Communities, Court Fees and Costs, Court Management, Poverty | 2 Comments