September 8, 2006
Access to Justice
Commission
Minutes
September 8, 2006
Present: Ilene Bloom, Dan Taubman, Diana Poole, Pam Gagel, JoAnn Vogt (Chair), Jon Asher, Darla Benford, Connie Talmage, and Mary Ann Corey (on the phone).
Guest: Diane Peterson
Staff: Kathleen Schoen, Cheryl Law, and Greg Martin
1. Diane Peterson, Chair of the CBA’s Youth at Risk Task Force, explained that Liz Starrs, CBA President created Youth at Risk task force to explore ways lawyers can work with young people who are, or are at risk of being, involved in the justice system. Preliminarily the task force has two objectives:
a. Develop a resource and referral list of volunteer opportunities for CBA members.
b. Develop a program whereby lawyers can assist youth in the justice system.
If anyone wants to serve on the Task Force, contact Diane Peterson, 970.667.5900.
2. ABA 2007 Equal Justice Conference: Kathleen reported:
a. The ABA Planning Committee would like proposals for presentations from Colorado and the region. Kathleen sent the request for proposal to the entire Access to Justice list-serv.
b. The Local Access to Justice Support Committee is exploring preparing two proposals:
Nuts and Bolts of Establishing Local Access to Justice Committees and Localized Approaches to Access to Justice (a panel similar to the session held at Colorado Access to Justice Conference in May 2006).
c. The “party”, sponsored by the Colorado Bar Association as the host state bar, will be held at Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for Performing Arts.
3. Committee Reports:
a. Education Committee: Ilene reported:
i. The Committee is working on the communication strategy, including a timeline.
ii. The Committee would like someone to head up revising the website and someone to be a liaison with those conducting the professionalism course for new admittees.
iii. Mary Ann Corey is heading up the effort to develop local legal services directories.
iv. Twelve law students at the University of Denver School of Law and 40 students at University of Colorado School of Law are participating in public interest mentor programs.
v. The University of Colorado School of Law has created a public interest task force.
b. Resource Committee: Diana reported:
i. The Committee will prepare a list of funding options to present at the Commission retreat on November 10, 2006.
ii. The Committee suggests that money for members of local access to justice committees to attend the 2007 Equal Justice Conference may come from several sources: to be included in fund raising by CBA planning committee; local ATJ committee members fund raise from their local bar association and local law firms; pro bono coordinators received grant funding from Legal Aid Foundation; and Colorado Legal Services training funds for CLS employees.
c. Local ATJ Support Committee: Dan reported:
i. Dan met with Kathleen and Cheryl about ways to contact current members and to follow up on potential local committees. He and Kathleen are meeting with the Denver Legal Services Committee to see if they want to join the Support Committee as the equivalent of the Denver Local Access to Justice Committee.
ii. Dan wants to follow-up with the local committees about participating in the ABA’s Equal Justice Conference, including submitting proposals and fund-raising to cover expenses of attending.
d. Courthouse Committee: Jon reported that e-filing fees for Colorado Legal Services increased from $1,200 for the entire year of 2005 to $1,000/$1,500 per month in 2006. The Ad Hoc will explore negotiating with Lexis on waiving these fees.
4. Chair’s Report:
a. Retreat: The retreat will be held on November 10, 2006. The officers of the Commission will decide time and location of the retreat.
b. Membership and officers: JoAnn reported that the current officers are not intending to remain in those positions. She requested that Commission members contact her with any names of potential officers and/or potential new members of the Commission.
c. Request for input regarding C.R.C.P. 6.1 (comment) and C.R.C.P. 260.8: JoAnn reported that the Supreme Court requested that the Access to Justice Commission comment on a letter outlining an alleged conflict in the wording between the comment to C.R.C.P. 6.1 and C.R.C.P. 260.8. After discussion the Committee unanimously approved the following motion:
It was moved, seconded, and approved that JoAnn send a letter to the court recommending that no change be made to Rule 260.8 and that either no change, or only a minor change to the last paragraph, be made to the Comment to Rule 6.1.
5. Needs Assessment: Pam reported that the draft Needs Assessment will be available at the November retreat.
Next Meeting:
November 10, 2006
Time and Location: TBD
Submitted by,
Kathleen Schoen for David Butler
