George said in 60 percent of divorce and custody cases, one side or the other has no lawyer. In 30 percent, neither party is represented. Because the courts cannot provide counsel for all the parties, the system must become more accessible and understandable for the public, he said. He is impressed with electronic kiosks, now used in Ventura County, which simplify divorce proceedings. Litigants press a button on a computer, the form is printed out, and then can be filled out in a nearby room.
Child care is available and a low-cost panel of attorneys can assist.
George says the courts need to implement. We're going to have to be more innovative and engage in more efficiencies to make the system more user-friendly. Another key issue is the delay in capital appeals for death row inmates. New legislation makes trial judges and trial attorneys responsible for preparing and certifying the record quickly. But George believes the private bar cannot be expected to shoulder the entire burden.