“MEETING THE CHALLENGES TO EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL”  

 2014 Access to Justice Conference

Friday, June 20, 2014

 

On a sunny Friday morning, June 20, 2014, 265 interested individuals attended the Access to Justice Conference sponsored by the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission (“Commission”). The venue at the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii, Manoa campus provided an opportunity for all to join in the theme of the conference, “Meeting the Challenges to Equal Justice for All.”

Intermediate Court of Appeals Associate Judge Daniel R. Foley, Chair of the Commission, opened with an overview of the Commission’s activities. In his remarks, Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald praised Judge Foley and former Supreme Court Justice Simeon Acoba for their leadership on the Commission. Chief Justice Recktenwald noted, “Our Commission, which is one of 31 such organizations across the country, serves as a model for other states because it has accomplished so much with very limited resources.”

Jim J. Sandman, president of Legal Services Corporation, in his keynote address said that in rethinking access to justice one needs to reachout to the groups that have not been part of the initial movement.

Concurrent workshops in the afternoon of the conference presented further opportunities for attendees to discuss innovations and ideas.  The closing panel discussion summarized the challenges, which will hopefully become future accomplishments.

Chief Justice Recktenwald’s opening remarks described the achievements of access to justice in the Judiciary.   He stated:

                        Although we have made significant strides in providing increased access to justice here in Hawai`i, we have much work left to do.  We need to sustain our achievements, such as the self-help centers, while at the same time looking for innovative ways in which to continue to move forward.

                     One example of the out-of-the-box thinking that will be required in order to keep us  moving forward is the recent report completed by the Judiciary’s Strategic Planning Committee on Access to Justice.  The purpose of this committee, which is chaired by Justice  Acoba, was to set forth a long-range vision for the judiciary’s ATJ efforts.  The committee’s  recommendations range from designating an individual or committee to facilitate access to  justice programs statewide, to creating an online ask-a-lawyer interface, to producing  YouTube videos to inform the public of common legal issues.  It also recommended expanding the judiciary’s Ho’okele assistance program, under which court staff provide directions and assistance to court users as they enter our courthouses.

The full text of his remarks:   Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald’s Opening Remarks at the 2014 Access to Justice Conference

Jim Sandman’s keynote address “Rethinking Access to Justice:”  Rethinking Access to Justice — Hawaii Access to Justice Conference

 

Judge Foley, Gunner Schull, Dean Soifer, Jim Sandman, Chief Justice Recktenwald, and Justice Acoba (ret.)

Judge Daniel Foley, Gunner Schull, Dean Aviam Soifer, Jim Sandman, Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, and Justice Simeon Acoba (ret.)

 

Mihoko Ito and Gary Slovin at the Giving Voice workshop

Mihoko Ito and Gary Slovin – Giving Voice to the Underserved workshop

Prof. Pietsch and Drs. Fernandes and Buzanoski in "Capacity Issues for the Elderly" workshop

Professor Jim Pietsch, Dr. Ritabelle Fernandes, Dr. John Buzanoski – “Capacity Issues for the Elderly: Your Clients, Your Parents” workshop

Judges Ibarra and Richardson in the Self-Help Centers workshop

Judge Ronald Ibarra and Judge Barbara Richardson – “Strengths/Limitations of Self-Help Centers; Challenges in Working with Unrepresented Litigants” workshop

Emily Reber Porter in the Technology Workshop

Emily Reber Porter – “Using Technology to Enhance Access to Justice” workshop

 

Materials that were discussed in the “Right to Counsel in Civil Cases–Where Are We” workshop:

1.  Right to Counsel in Civil Proceedings Overview Memorandum

2.  Right to Counsel – ABA Toolkit

3.  Haw. Rev. Stat. sec. 604-10-5

4.  Haw. Rev. Stat. sec. 633-28 Small Claims

5.  Law review articles:

 ACCESS_TO_JUSTICE_–_CIVIL_RIGHT_TO_COUNSEL_–_CALIFORNIA_ESTABLISHES_PILOT_PROG

ADVOCACY_IN_HEALTH_PROCEEDINGS_IN_NEW_YORK_STATE

JURISPRUDENCE_DUE_PROCESS_CONCERNS_FOR_THE_UNDERREPRESENTED_DOMESTIC_VIOLENCE_VI

THE_CASE_AGAINST_CASE-BY-CASE_COURTS_IDENTIFYING_CATEGORICAL_RIGHTS_TO_COUNSEL_I

THE_INTERDEPENDENCE_OF_RIGHTS_PROTECTING_THE_HUMAN_RIGHT_TO_HOUSING_BY_PROMOTING

6.  Right to counsel cases:

rt to counsel – in interest of A children

rt to counsel – in interest of jane doe

rt to counsel – in interest of RGB

rt to counsel – in interest of TM

7.  Temporary restraining orders:

TRO packet 1TRO packet 2TRO packet 3TRO packet 4TRO Parker v PuhiTRO State v Narmore

 

 Powerpoint presentations of certain workshops:

RIGHT TO COUNSEL IN CIVIL CASES

RIGHT TO COUNSEL: DEPT. OF HUMAN SERVICES

GIVING VOICES TO THE UNDERSERVED: LOBBYING AND POLITICAL MOVEMENTS

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE – ISSUES TO CONSIDER

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

MEETING CHALLENGES TO EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF UNBUNDLED LEGAL SERVICES

USING TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO JUSTICE