Access to Justice

SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 2023

More States Turn To Paraprofessionals To Fill Justice Gap

By Aebra Coe

The number of states implementing programs to license paraprofessionals to practice law has swiftly multiplied over the last three years, growing from two states to six and counting as courts seek ways to meet the legal needs of low- and moderate-income residents.

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COVID Bottleneck Continues To Delay Federal Courts

By Cara Bayles

Though new filings fell dramatically over the course of the pandemic, the length of time it took cases to resolve rose, a sign that though the public health emergency has ended, COVID’s effects are still being felt in federal courts, raising access to justice concerns for both litigants and criminal defendants.

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Pro Bono Spotlight

Venable Wins Resentencing For Last Md. Death Row Inmate

By Andrea Keckley

The last Maryland resident on federal death row is now awaiting resentencing for the fatal 2002 kidnapping of a Washington, D.C., police officer's son after a Venable LLP team recently helped persuade a judge to vacate his death sentence and three firearms convictions.

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Ariz., Utah OK Nonlawyer Program For Housing Advice

By Tracey Read

A new legal service model that aims to keep more low-income families in their homes has received approval from the Arizona and Utah supreme courts — which have waived restrictions on the unauthorized practice of law.

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NY Legal Aid Orgs. Cheer New Law Ditching Civil Notarization

By Marco Poggio

New York could soon become the latest state to eliminate the process of requiring documents to be notarized in civil matters, a move that civil legal aid organizations say will improve people's access to the state's court system.

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40 DC Firms Honored In Effort To Improve Access To Justice

By Alison Knezevich

Forty law firms in Washington, D.C., have qualified for an annual campaign recognizing those that donate a certain percentage of their revenue to local legal services organizations, the D.C. Access to Justice Commission announced Thursday.

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Series

Inside Immigration Court: Can Remote Hearings Be Fair?

Technology introduced during the pandemic has improved the quality and efficiency of virtual immigration court hearings, but concerns still linger over the court system's ability to provide full and complete simultaneous interpretation in these hearings, as well as its effect on due process, says Immigration Judge Mimi Tsankov.

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Perspectives

Well-Equipped Public Defenders Can Help Reduce Recidivism

Public defenders are uniquely positioned to connect clients with essential services that are proven to address the root drivers of crime, thus reducing recidivism and promoting public safety — but they need adequate resources to bring about this change, says Emily Galvin-Almanza at Partners for Justice.

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Perspectives

How Attorneys Can Help Combat Anti-Asian Hate

Amid an exponential increase in violence against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, unique obstacles stand in the way of accountability and justice — but lawyers can effect powerful change by raising awareness, offering legal representation, advocating for victims’ rights and more, say attorneys at Gibson Dunn.

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