Search


Powered by Google

Casemaker

Not a CBA Member? Join Now!

Most Viewed

July 14, 2006

Access to Justice
Commission
Minutes
July 14, 2006

Present: Hon. Barney Iuppa, John Zakhem, Hon. JoAnn Vogt, Fred Baumann, Jon Asher, Ilene Bloom, Connie Talmage, Darla Benford, Dave Butler, Pam Gagel, Jim Peters (phone), Hon. Bill Alexander (phone), Karen DuWaldt (phone), Aaron Clay (phone), Kathleen Schoen
Guest: Cheryl Law, Julie Lambert, and Susan Vanderbilt

  • Meeting minutes of May 12, 2006 – approved
  • Equal Justice Conference- March 22-24, 2006, Denver-
    • Plans for the party sponsored by the local state bar are progressing. The contract with the Seawell Ballroom at Denver Center for Performing Arts has been signed. Dana Collier Smith, CBA staff, is helping coordinate the logistics.
    • The planning committee is looking for sponsors, including corporate and law firm sponsors. The cost is estimated to be $25,000-$30,000.
    • The Commission wants to be sure that they have input into the agenda for conference and for the Access to Justice chairs meeting. Kathleen Schoen is in touch with the coordinator at the ABA and hopes to provide information as it becomes available.
    • Jon Asher announced that NLADA is having their meeting in Denver in December 2009.
  • Local ATJ Conference: The Commission discussed having a meeting of Colorado local ATJ committees sometime during the Equal Justice Conference.
  • Program Coordinator: Kathleen Schoen reported that the CBA is searching for a program coordinator for the Local Bar Relations/Access to Justice Department. She asked the Commission members to e-mail her with any ideas of how the department can best help the Commission and the Committees. Kathleen Schoen also mentioned that when the Commission and Committees have appropriate projects, she wants to discuss hiring a work-study student to help with the projects.
  • Needs Assessment: The Commission discussed the depth and breadth of a proposed Colorado needs assessment about the unmet need for legal services. Jon Asher mentioned that several resources already exist from which information can be gathered, including, Legal Service Corporation 2005 report and other states’ needs-assessment. The Commission discussed working with local ATJ committees to gather information about need, including what is the scope of representation, and the number and kinds of cases in which low income people are unable to be served.
  • Committee reports
  • Education: Ilene Bloom reported:
    • Restructuring: Committee is in favor of the restructuring and is considering renaming their committee to Public Information or Public Awareness. They will discuss the issue further.
    • Public Awareness Campaign: The Committee discussed developing a public relations campaign. The target audiences would include lawyers, law students, the public, and legislators. They realized that there was over-lap with the Resource Committee on the legislative project and would like to collaborate.
    • Needs-Assessment: The Committee feels that a needs-assessment is important component to being able to develop an effective public relations campaign. Pam Gagel is taking the lead in determining the type of needs assessment that will be proposed to the Commission.
    • ATJ Website: The Committee discussed that the ATJ website is an important tool in the education campaign. One area of the website that can use immediate attention is the local ATJ committee information. The Committee suggested that the local committees revise the information pertaining to their local committee on the website. Aaron Clay will propose to local committees that they send their revisions to Kathleen Schoen at the Colorado Bar Association. The Colorado Bar Association will incorporate the revisions into the website.
    • Professionalism Course: The Committee wants to continue to provide information on Rule 6.1 and other pro bono issues to Attorney Regulation Counsel to be included in the professionalism course for new Colorado lawyers.
    • Legal Services Directory: With the help of local ATJ committees, the Education Committee wants to produce an on-line legal services directory.
    • Law schools relationship: The Committee wants to continue its strong relationship with the law schools.
    • Mentor Project: Ilene Bloom reported that Sarah Quicksall, University of Colorado Law School student representative to the Education Committee, is asking the Commission to sponsor a public-interest mentor program for law students. The Commission commends Sarah for her work, passion and dedication to the topic. While the Commission is not position to take on the project as an Access to Justice project, the Commission will be glad to help find attorney mentors and will be glad to assist in other supportive roles. The Commission felt that the project would be more appropriately administrated by the law school.
  • Resource: Fred Baumann reported that the Committee is using ABA self-assessment tool to analyze the prospect for continued and additional funding. The Committee intends to report on its analysis in September and will ask for input from the Commission members on how to prioritize various options. The Committee feels that it is appropriate for Resource Committee to take the lead in educating and approaching potential resources for Access to Justice, including the legislature.
  • Local Access to Justice Support: Kathleen Schoen reported that the committee thought that the Colorado ATJ Conference in May was very helpful. They would like to meet again. Resources (time and money) are always a consideration in attending conferences. The local committees are willing to work on a self-assessment to determine need and resources.
  • Courts Committee: Hon. Barney Iuppa reported that
    • Restructuring: The Committee is in favor of restructuring plan. Since it does not impact their committee, they will defer to the decision of the other committees.
    • Signage: The Committee discussed how to improve signage in various languages to help make the courthouses more accessible to non-English speakers.
    • Interpreters: Emy Lopez, Interpreter services, State Court Administrator’s Office, reported at the Committee meeting that SCAO is working on a Chief Justice Directive expanding the types of civil cases that the court hopes to provide interpreters. This CJD is due to be signed by the Chief Justice in the near future.
    • Forms: SCAO is continuing to develop pleadings and other forms in Spanish and other languages.
    • Lexis/Nexus filing fees: The Committee wants to continue to look at Lexis/Nexus filing fees for indigent clients. Jon reported that Colorado Legal Services costs have risen from $1,500 for the entire year of 2005 to the current costs of $1,200-$2,000/month due to mandatory e-filing.
    • The Ad Hoc Committee did not have a report at this time.
  • Chair report
    • JoAnn received a thank you letter from Cynthia Sweet, a BarBri scholarship recipient.
    • Angie Arkin reported that her subcommittee apprised the University of Denver Sturm School of Law that her subcommittee did not support the proposal to allow first year law students to appear in court.
    • Several Commission members’ terms expire in December 2006: Jon Asher, Aaron Clay, Barney Iuppa, Pam Gagel, and Connie Talmage. JoAnn Vogt asked those members let her know if they want to continue.
  • Action Items:
    • Pam Gagel take the lead on developing a needs assessment and report to the Commission at the next meeting.
    • Aaron Clay will suggest to Local ATJ Committees that they revise their website and send the revision to Kathleen Schoen.
    • The Resource Committee will present their proposed options for continued and additional funding.

Next Meeting:
September 8
Noon – 1:30
Colorado Bar Association