Opinion ID: 1634097
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Process

Text: The Arkansas Access to Justice Conference brought 118 attorneys, judges and advocates representing Arkansas' justice community together on March 23, 2001 to identify challenges to access and develop a consensus about the most effective institutional vehicle to coordinate statewide efforts to improve access to justice. The conference concluded with a call to action to create a permanent Arkansas Access to Justice Commission. In response, the Arkansas Bar Association convened the Access To Justice Working Group, which held its first meeting in October 2002 (membership list attached). The Working Group's purpose is to determine if a need exists for a permanent Arkansas Access to Justice Commission and, if so, to develop a recommendation for the governance bodies of the Arkansas Bar Association. To this end, the Arkansas Access to Justice Working Group has met as a body four times since October 2002. In addition, subcommittees have met in between meetings to develop work products for review. Through its deliberations, the Working Group has concluded:  Fulfilling the promise of equal justice under law requires an ongoing process of continually improving access to the legal system.  Leaders of the private bar, the judiciary, advocacy organizations, legal services and other Arkansans share a commitment to improving access to justice. Without a coordinated effort, however, progress will remain elusive.  Improving access to justice hinges on documenting the unmet need in Arkansas, understanding the different dimensions of that need, and devising a long term plan of action, while demonstrating best practices through pilot projects and other means.  Effective and frequent communication among different interests is fundamental to progress.  A permanent Arkansas Access to Justice Commission is the most effective forum to bring leaders committed to improving access to justice together and to promote coordinated effort. To this end, the Access to Justice Working Group recommends that the Arkansas Bar Association submit a formal request to the Arkansas Supreme Court to create a permanent Arkansas Access to Justice Commission with the mission, goals and structure described below. . . . . [ ... Mission, Goals, Structure ... have been excerpted and may be found in body of order.] . . . .