Litigation

State Court Funding ?Crisis? a Focus for ABA

By Peter Hardin

American Bar Association president Stephen N. Zack has offered an alarming analysis of “a justice system…in crisis” in our states.

“Our courts protect our freedom and our access to justice when we need it. But at the state court level, the courts are neglected, underfunded and backlogged,” Zack wrote in a commentary published by the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The American Bar Association was meeting in Atlanta. Zach used the commentary to introduce an ABA task force that was scheduled to hold a hearing today — and others in later weeks — about the ways that funding cuts for state courts are affecting the lives and livelihoods of people who depend on the courts. Zach decried “an epidemic” of budget crises:

“An epidemic of funding crises has hit states large and small, blue and red, north, south, west and east. No one is immune.

“Judicial emergencies are in place in many areas so that criminal trial deadlines can be extended. The impact on the civil docket is massive, and it threatens the ability of all Americans to resolve disputes within a justice system designed to be a model for the world.”

This summer, the task force will issue a report with proposals for state court funding reform, and it will put together a coalition for  to drive a grass-roots campaign for change, Zack said. The ABA is a partner of the Justice at Stake Campaign.

An ABA press release gave details about the hearing and a call-in number for those wanting to listen.

Full post as published by The Gavel on February 09, 2011 (boomark / email).