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  • March 27, 2007

    Inside the Bar May 2007: Equal Justice conferees discuss problems in Wisconsin's civil justice system

    On March 16, more than 200 Wisconsin lawyers, judges, advocates, and concerned citizens attended the Wisconsin Equal Justice Conference to discuss the present and future state of Wisconsin's civil justice system. The all-day conference, held in Milwaukee, was organized by the State Bar Legal Assistance Committee and hosted by Marquette University Law School.

    Inside the   BarInside the Bar
    May 2007

    Equal Justice conferees discuss problems in Wisconsin's civil justice system

    On March 16, more than 200 Wisconsin lawyers, judges, advocates, and concerned citizens attended the Wisconsin Equal Justice Conference to discuss the present and future state of Wisconsin's civil justice system. The all-day conference, held in Milwaukee, was organized by the State Bar Legal Assistance Committee and hosted by Marquette University Law School.

    The State Bar's Access to Justice Study Committee's recent report, "Bridging the Justice Gap: Wisconsin's Unmet Legal Needs," was a springboard for much discussion.

    Judge Richard Sankovitz, the committee chair, gave the conferees an overview of the report and its recommendations on what courts, law schools, government, and the State Bar can do together to address the problem.

    Conference sessions were offered on the role of law schools, courts, service delivery methods, funding strategies, and coalition building approaches in other states. Attendees also had a chance to begin the discussion on setting goals for the future. They agreed that it was important to develop a more formal coalition to support access to justice efforts and to support the proposed $1 million in initial state funding for civil legal services to poor people that was included in Gov. Doyle's budget for the next biennium.

    Highlights of the day were addresses from Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson, Washington State Chief Justice Gerry Alexander, and the Hon. Deborah Hankinson, chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense.

    Hankinson, in her keynote address, reflected on her time on the Texas Supreme Court, noting, "The best of intentions don't necessarily lead to the best of results. At one point, we had leaders of the legal services community pursuing one set of strategies, leaders of the Bar pursuing another, and government mostly standing by and watching." She left attendees with the key ingredients that led to significant change in many states, including Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin's Midwestern neighbors: a broad partnership, leadership, formal access to justice structures, and strategic vision, along with improved communication and funding.

    The State Bar Board of Governors will discuss the Access to Justice Study Committee's recommendations at its May meeting. Read the committee's full report.


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