Category Archives: Court Management

An Approach to Customer/Litigant/User Input Into the Courts

Posted on February 20, 2016 by richardzorza

I have been thinking recently if there is any good way to get decent customer/litigant/user input into the functioning of the courts. The fact is that most court systems do very little in this regard.  There is certainly no “Consumer … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Management, Medical System Comparision | Comments Off on An Approach to Customer/Litigant/User Input Into the Courts

Thinking About Designing Courthouses for Access to Justice

Posted on January 17, 2016 by richardzorza

Some of us have long urged courthouses be designed physically with a view to access to justice.  We might find some inspiration from a recent video feature on Politico, on the “Post-Ferguson Police Station,”   I would suggest watching the video … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Management, Security, Self-Help Services | 5 Comments

The Need for Economic and Regulatory Incentives for Access to Justice

Posted on January 1, 2016 by richardzorza

I find it remarkable that there so few regulatory and economic incentives towards access to justice built into our system. It is now true that you have to do a certain number of pro bono hours to get to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Court Management, Outcome Measures, Research and Evalation, Systematic Change | 4 Comments

John Naughton In the Guardian Calls for Code of Ethics For Those Who Write Algorithms

Posted on December 7, 2015 by richardzorza

A fascinating article in the Guardian is of relevance to anyone who builds or uses technology in the justice system. After highlighting the range of decisions made by algorithms today, and their potential consequences, the writer, John Naughton, moves to … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Court Management, Metrics, Outcome Measures, Research and Evalation, Software Developers, Technology, Transparency, Triage | Comments Off on John Naughton In the Guardian Calls for Code of Ethics For Those Who Write Algorithms

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

Could We Get to 100% Access Without As Many New Resources As We Now Assume, a Very Rough Analysis?

Posted on November 13, 2015 by richardzorza

It’s a truism and an article of faith in the access to justice community that the only way to get to 100% access to justice is a massive infusion of money. It might well be true, but try this mental … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Access to Justice Generally, Budget Issues, Court Management, Legal Aid, Research and Evalation, Rules Reform, Self-Help Services, Simplification, Systematic Change | 5 Comments

Making a Mockery of Indigents’ Right Of Court Access, and a Former Chief Justice shows Leadership

Posted on October 26, 2015 by richardzorza

A clerk in Texas has been making a mockery of the right of access to justice of indigents.  As explained in the Texas Tribune: In 2012, six plaintiffs from Tarrant County sued the local district court clerk for charging them … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Court Fees and Costs, Court Management | 1 Comment

New York Making Big Progress on Multi-Lingual Court Orders

Posted on October 13, 2015 by richardzorza

Many of us have long believed that creating multi-lingual court orders could have a big impact on compliance and court efficiency. The New York courts have recently started taking big steps in that direction.  As the press release says: In … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Management, Document Assembly, Domestic Violence, LEP, Technology | 2 Comments

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

Reflections on Two Comments on 100% Access to Justice Definition

Posted on September 6, 2015 by richardzorza

The proposed definition of 100% access to justice has received near record comments — and hopefully there will be more.  I want to comment on two here, although all are worth consideration and debate. Jim Greiner points out that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Access to Justice Generally, Administative Proecdure, Bar Associations, Budget Issues, Commentators, Consumer Rights, Court Management, Guest Bloggers, Research and Evalation, Simplification, Systematic Change, Triage | Comments Off on Reflections on Two Comments on 100% Access to Justice Definition

Towards a Definition of “One Hundred Percent Access to Civil Justice”

Posted on September 3, 2015 by richardzorza

With the setting by the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ), and the Conference of State Court Administrators  (COSCA) by Resolution of 100% access to justice as an “aspirational goal,” the question of just what that term means becomes more and … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Administative Proecdure, Bar Associations, Court Management, Judicial Ethics, Legal Aid, Planning, Research and Evalation, Systematic Change, Triage | 8 Comments

New CCJ/COSCA Resolution on 100% Access, and How to Get There, Is a Tipping Point

Posted on August 11, 2015 by richardzorza

The week before last, the Conference of (state) Chief Justices, and the Conference of State Court Administrators jointly passed two Resolutions that together predict a tipping pint forward in moving to justice.  One sets an aspirational goal of 100% access … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% Access Strategy and Campaign, Access to Counsel, Access to Justice Boards, Access to Justice Generally, Bar Associations, Communications Strategy, Court Management, Forms, Legal Aid, Mobile Technology, Outcome Measures, Political Support, Research and Evalation, Rules Reform, Self-Help Services, Simplification, Systematic Change, Technology, Triage, Unbundling | 3 Comments

Reasons for Thirty Eight Percent Reduction in US Heart Attack Deaths in Ten Years Have Obvious and Detailed Implications for Access to Justice Reform

Posted on June 21, 2015 by richardzorza

It’s an amazing statistic: in just ten years, the US heart attack rate has been reduced by 38%, as reported in a wonderful and hightly suggestive article in the June 21, NYT, here. Perhaps most hopefully, in this week of … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Management, Forms, Legal Aid, Medical System Comparision, Mixed Model, Triage | 2 Comments

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

The Broader Lessons of Ferguson and Baltimore Are Much More Challenging — Opportunities to Be Part of the Solution

Posted on May 25, 2015 by richardzorza

Some of us have begun calling it the Chasm — it’s the chasm between the legal system and the poor.  When the cops yell “stop”, young men do not make subtle legal distinctions between the civil and criminal justice systems.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Bankruptcy, Child Support, Court Fees and Costs, Court Management, Dept. of Justice, expungement | 2 Comments