November 2, 2007

Minutes

Present: Constance Talmage, Hon. William Alexander (phone), Jonathan Asher, Fred Baumann, Ilene Bloom, David Butler, Karen DuWaldt (phone), Hon. Barney Iuppa, Magistrate Simon Mole, Jim Peters, Diana Poole, Hon. Daniel Taubman, and Hon. JoAnn Vogt

Guests: Greg Martin, Kathleen Schoen, Adam Barnhurst, Christopher Kelly, and Greg LeBouton

1. Minutes of September 7, 2007 approved.

2. Statewide ATJ Hearings:

Connie reported that the hearings have gone very well.  Hearings have been held in Delta, Durango, Pueblo, Grand Junction, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins.  Hearings are still scheduled in Breckenridge, Greeley, Boulder, and Denver.  Next steps are:

• Finalize the report (Report Subcommittee includes: Connie Talmage, Dan Taubman, Jon Asher, Kath Schoen, and students (Adam Barnhurst, Chris Kelly, and Greg LeBouton.) 

• Develop a legislative proposal  and work with Colorado Legislature. (Legislative Proposal Subcommittee includes: Jon Asher and Michael Valdez.) 

• Meet with Governor’s Office to discuss support for the proposal. 

• Meet with Chief Justice to discuss the proposal (Jon Asher, Fred Baumann and Connie Talmage).

Connie thanked all those who have worked on the hearings including the students (Adam Barnhurst, Chris Kelly, and Greg LeBouton), and Michael Valdez and Kathleen Schoen of the Colorado Bar Association.

Connie also mentioned that the line item for the Family Justice Fund in the Colorado Judicial Department budget submitted to the Legislature has been raised from $500,000 to $750,000.  (This is the money appropriated through the Judicial Department for legal services for low income people.)

3. Committee Reports:

• Second Season of Service: JoAnn Vogt reported that:
  
  a. The new Emeritus/Pro Bono rule has been publicized through bar publications and other presentations.  She and Dan Taubman presented information at the recent judicial conference.
  
  b. Those lawyers registering under the rule can take advantage of the trainings and information offered through ProBonoNet, information and trainings offered through Colorado Legal Services.
  
  c. John Gleason, Director of Attorney Regulation, is including information in the annual registration packets for Colorado lawyers, resulting in information going to 23,000 active and 13,000 inactive lawyers. 

• Supreme Court Pro Bono Initiative Committee, Resource Committee, Courthouse Committee, Local ATJ Support Committee, and Public Information Committee:  All reported that their members’ time and energy have been on the statewide hearings. 

• Connie Talmage asked each subcommittee chair to submit their 2008 plans for discussion at the January 2008 ATJ Commission meeting.

4. Recognition of David Butler:  After years of commitment to providing legal service to low income people of Colorado, David Butler, a partner in Holland and Hart LLP, is completing his last term with the Access to Justice Commission.  Jon Asher spoke of David’s dedication to ensuring that Colorado has the most efficient and effective organizations to develop legal resources for low income people.  Connie presented David with an engraved clock expressing the Commission’s appreciation for all that David has done.  David’s inspiration and leadership will be missed. 

5. Constance Talmage—Recipient of the Edwin D. Wolf Award: Fred Baumann notified the Commission that chair Connie Talmage is being honored by a national organization, the Lawyers’ Committee For Civil Rights Under the Law, with the Edwin D. Wolf Award for her extraordinary leadership as executive director of the Colorado Lawyers Committee.  This recognition will happen on December 10, 2007 in Washington, D.C.

6. 2008 meeting schedule: January 4, March 7, May 2, July 11, September 5, and November 7.

NEXT MEETING: January 4, 2008