July 6, 2007

July 6, 2007
Minutes

Present:  Connie Talmage, Jon Asher, Jim Peters, Simon Mole, Dan Taubman, JoAnn Vogt, Barney Iuppa, Fred Baumann, Karen DuWaldt, Diana Poole, and Ryan Call. 

On the phone: Ilene Bloom, Bill Alexander, and Mary Ann Corey.

Guests: Charles Garcia, Hon. Marcia Krieger, Chuck Turner, Greg Martin, Kath Schoen, Cheryl Law, Monique Westfall, Sofia Abeyta, Amber Tafoya, Lindsey Webb, and Julie Lambert.

Meeting was called to order at approximately 12 pm.

Minutes of May 4 meeting approved.

Chair’s Report:
1. Colorado Rule of Professional Conduct 6.5 – Nonprofit And Court-Annexed Limited Legal Services Programs (effective January 1, 2007) (see attached Rule 6.5).  This rule suspends certain conflict rules for lawyers who provide limited legal representation under the auspices of a program sponsored by a non-profit organization or the courts.  (Please click here to view the full set of ethical rules)
2. Colorado Bar Foundation Grant – An application was submitted to the Colorado Bar Foundation for a grant for travel expenses for the upcoming hearings. 
3. Simon Mole has replaced Barney Iuppa as the new Courts Committee co-chairperson with Angela Arkin.  The Commission thanks Barney for his work as co-chair of the Courts Committee.
4. A letter of support was submitted to Legal Service Corporation in support of Colorado Legal Services grant application to develop and distribute live and archive web cast content to clients and advocates throughout Colorado (see attached letter).
5. Thanks to the bar staff for including information about the Supreme Court’s Pro Bono Initiative in the presidential visits’ packet.

Statewide ATJ Hearings:
The Commission discussed holding hearings on issues of access to justice around the state.  The Commission decided:
1. Four or five statewide hearings will be held in the Fall 2007.
2. Public Education Committee will take the lead in setting an overall design for the hearings.
3. The hearings will be held based on a Congressional hearing structure, with invited attendees.

Action Steps for ATJ Hearings:
1. Charles Garcia and Inga Causey will draft a proposal on how the hearings will be conducted.
2. Dan Taubman will coordinate a committee, including Charles Garcia, Fred Baumann, Jon Asher, Simon Mole, Kath Schoen, Ryan Call and Michael Valdez (Colorado Bar Association lobbyist) to determine where the hearings will be held.  The goal is to have all hearings completed by middle of November. 

Guest Speaker
Hon. Marcia Krieger informed the Commission about “Our Courts,” a non-partisan project of the Colorado Judicial Institute and Colorado Bar Association providing information programs to further public knowledge and understanding of the state and federal courts in Colorado.  A twenty to fifty minute interactive PowerPoint presentation has been designed to reach adult populations (college students, book groups, Kiwanis groups, etc.)  Presentations are statewide and presented by local speakers.  The purpose of the presentations is to create discussion and provide information about various aspects of the courts systems. Four presentations are in various stages of completion:  State Court System, Federal Court System, Source of Law, and Difference Between Trial Courts and Appellate Courts.

Committee Reports
Resource Development – Fred Baumann
1. COLTAF comparability – COLTAF has been fairly successful in obtaining voluntary comparability of interest rates provided to COLTAF accounts as compared to similar accounts at various banks.  COLTAF will continue to advocate for comparability.
2. The Colorado Judicial Branch has indicated that they will request an increase in the Domestic Violence funding in their next budget.  The Committee has decided that it will also seek a separate allocation from the state’s general fund (which funds will hopefully not be limited to domestic violence representation). 
3. The private bar contributed generously to the Legal Aid Foundation campaign.  

Second Season of Service –JoAnn Vogt
1. Rule 223. Pro Bono/Emeritus Attorney (see attached), was adopted by the Colorado Supreme Court on June 28, 2007 and effective July 1, 2007.
2. Second Season of Service Committee is focused on publicizing the new rule:
a. JoAnn Vogt has already authored an article for the September issue of The Colorado Lawyer.
b. Monique Westfall and Kathleen Schoen will work on promoting the rule on the Access to Justice website and Colorado Bar Association list-servs.
3. Next meeting tentatively scheduled for the end of August/beginning September

Supreme Court Pro Bono Initiative Committee – Connie Talmage
The Supreme Court’s Pro Bono Initiative Committee has been recruiting new firms.  New firms who have responded to the Committee’s inquiry and signed onto the Supreme Court Pro Bono Initiative Pledge are:  Perkins Coie LLP, Cooley Godward Kronish LLP,  Patton Boggs LLP and McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP. 

Courthouse –Simon Mole
1. Simon and Kath Schoen presented information on the provision of services to pro se litigants to the Supreme Court’s Commission on Family Issues. 
2. The Courts Committee wants to participate in the planning of the ATJ hearings.
 
Local ATJ Support – Honorable Daniel Taubman reported:
1. Hon. Daniel Taubman distributed the minutes from the June 13 meeting (see attached).
2. Several local ATJ committees have been creative in enlisting help to serve on local ATJ committees, including district attorneys, local service providers, and victim advocates.
3. Aaron Clay is modifying the model charter to reflect the breadth of types of people who can serve on local committees

Public Education Committee: Charles Garcia
The next meeting is July 11, 2007 at 4:30 pm at the Colorado Bar Association. 

Other Business
The revised Access to Justice website will be active next week.  Connie Talmage invited comments from Commissioners as to the content and organization of the new site. 

Next Access to Justice Commission meeting: September 7, 2007 at noon at the Colorado Bar Association

Meeting Adjourned at 1:25 pm.