A Message From the Chair:

As we continue to face enormous cuts to our courts, as the funding for legal aid organizations continues to decrease, as services for low-income Californians continue to decrease or be eliminated altogether, it is easy to get discouraged and think that there is nothing we can do, either individually or collectively, to make a dent or difference in solving the problems we face.

But, as reflected in the above quote, we must not be overcome by the enormity of the injustice, we must, instead remember that each person can effect change for the better.

This issue of Justice discusses some of the many problems we continue to face as we seek to ensure equal access to justice for all, but also shows that there are many individuals and organizations who continue to strive and fight for that goal. We celebrate and congratulate the winner of the Aranda Award, the Honorable Juan Ulloa of Imperial County, we join in the celebration of national pro bono week and we detail the efforts of the Campaign for Justice.

When faced with the challenge of how to keep moving forward on this great quest to provide access to justice, we recognize that failure is simply not an option. The Access Commission continues in its work to ensure access to justice for all Californians, and despite the enormity of the issues, we assure you we will not give up.

Hon. Ronald B. Robie

Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District

Sacramento 

Every day, low-income Californians are denied access to the basic rights entitled to them under the law simply because they cannot afford a lawyer. Equal justice doesn't just make some of the difference. It makes all of the difference.   Established in early 2011, the Campaign For Justice raises funds to ensure that all Californians have access to justice under the law and seeks to raise awareness about the important issues surrounding equal access. The Campaign consists of four key components: educating key policymakers about the importance of legal aid, encouraging banks to maximize interest and waive fees on IOLTA accounts, increasing individual contributions to the Justice Gap Fund, and encouraging pro bono services to leverage legal aid resources. As a result of the Campaign for Justice, families will stay in their homes, children will maintain access health care, wrongfully denied unemployment benefits will be obtained and persons with disabilities will get Social Security. The Campaign has designated October as Campaign for Justice Month. Find out what you can do to help click here.

These are incredibly difficult economic times. The judicial branch has undergone significant budget reductions. Over the past four fiscal years, the judicial branch has experienced a cumulative ongoing reduction of $653 million. The impact of those cuts have been significant and felt across the State in every county, including, among other things, cutbacks in small claims court, drug courts, homeless courts and other innovative, targeted court services, delays in cases being heard, closure of courtrooms, reduced hours and staffing at self-help centers, elimination of court reporters for many cases, all of which impede access to courts and the judicial system. To learn how courts across California have been impacted, please click here.

In light of the challenges the courts are facing, the Commission has established a new committee to support the judicial branch budget, the statewide coordinated judicial system and to coordinate with the Judicial Council entities on shared priorities.

The Strategic Evaluation Committee's Report on the Administrative Office of the Courts was provided to the Chief Justice and the Judicial Council in May. Subsequent to the issuance of the report the Access Commission provided a detailed analysis and comment on the extent they impact equal access to the Courts.

The Commission recognized the significant amount of work that went into developing the report but expressed its concerns with certain of the recommendations that could impede access to courts, especially by California's most vulnerable residents. As the Commission stated in one of its letters:

"Although it has been suggested that access efforts should be abandoned due to the severe budget constraints facing the branch, it is more important than ever that fundamental goals such as equal access not be abandoned during challenging times. Access to justice efforts are critical when vulnerable Californians are most at risk - when they are facing foreclosure, unemployment, family disintegration, domestic violence, and other ills - and that is when they are most in need of the protections of our judicial system."

You can read the Commission's comments here  

From October 21 through 27, judges and lawyers nationwide celebrated National Pro Bono week.  Numerous events were held that recognized the efforts of those that contribute their time and talents to performing pro bono work, that raised awareness of the power and importance of pro bono service, and, just as importantly that provided opportunities for attorneys to contribute to pro bono.  Events were planned throughout the country, including throughout California.  For example, there were trainings and clinics on consumer law, housing and eviction, discussions and lectures on how pro bono lawyers can work with public civil rights organizations on important Supreme Court cases along with receptions celebrating and recognizing the pro bono work of individuals and firms.  

Learn more about Pro Bono week

Judge Juan Ulloa of the Superior Court of Imperial County has been chosen as the recipient of the 2012 Aranda Access to Justice Award. The award honors a California trial judge or appellate justice whose activities demonstrate long-term commitment to improving access to justice.

Judge Ulloa was recognized for establishing a collaborative relationship with court and consulate officials from Mexico to better serve the legal needs of his community, as well as being a leader in court reform efforts and working to improve access to justice for all Imperial County residents.

The award will be presented to Judge Ulloa by Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye at a ceremony in December on behalf of the Judicial Council, the California Judges Association, and the State Bar of California in collaboration with the California Commission on Access to Justice.  Click here for more information.

For the Judicial Council announcement on the Aranda Award click here.

Mary has been the staff director of the Access to Justice Commission since it was launched in 1997, and she has worked on access to justice issues for over 32 years. She has helped address legal services funding, as well as funding for the judiciary, and coordinated efforts between the Judicial Council, the courts, the State Bar, and legal services programs.

As Director of the Office of Legal Services, she oversees operations including the Legal Services Trust Fund Program and the Center on Access to Justice. She was involved in efforts to obtain a $10 million annual state appropriation for legal services in California, with 10 percent of the funds dedicated to partnership projects between courts and legal services programs.

She is the State Bar Liaison to the Bench-Bar Coalition, the Judicial Council's Task Force on Self-Represented Litigants, and the Access and Fairness Advisory Committee.

The award will be presented in December, at the same time that the Commission's Aranda Award is presented by the Judicial Council, at a special ceremony in San Francisco.

Read more. 

The Access Commission is comprised of 26 members from across the state and includes representatives from fourteen appointing bodies, including the Governor, the California Supreme Court, the California Chamber of Commerce, the League of Women Voters, and the State Bar of California. Members serve three year terms that are renewable up to two times. In 2012, the Commission welcomed 3 new members and looks forward to working with them to help ensure access to justice for all.

Catherine Blackmore

Hon. Mark A. Juhas

Michael J. Levy

Catherine Blakemore is the Executive Director of Disability Rights California. She has a long standing commitment to legal services and access to justice.

Hon. Mark A. Juhas is a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court sitting in a general family law department. He is a active in the field of self-represented litigants and access to justice both statewide and in the Los Angele County Superior Court.

Michael J. Levy is Chief Counsel of the California Energy Commission. For many years he done extensive volunteer work in both the judicial and bar association areas, most recently completing his term as President of the Sacramento County Bar Association.

For more information about the Commission and for a listing of all of its members click here