Alabama Law Foundation
Access to Justice Commission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alabama Supreme Court creates Access to Justice Commission to improve civil legal services for low-income Alabamians
Alabama last in nation in spending for legal aid to low-income residents

MONTGOMERY, ALA. – July 19, 2007 – Alabama Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb and the Alabama Law Foundation announced today the creation of the Access to Justice Commission, an organization whose mission is to provide funding and civil legal services for low-income residents.

On April 24, 2007, the Supreme Court of Alabama issued an order creating the Alabama Access to Justice Commission. The Commission’s creation was the result of Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb realizing the need for people to be treated fairly in the court system and the social concern facing the state of Alabama.

“Low-income residents of Alabama do not have adequate means for receiving civil legal services and this commission’s goal is to improve these inadequate standards,” said Chief Justice Cobb. “All Alabama residents deserve equal access to the civil legal system and this commission will make sure they receive fair representation.”

The Commission brings together a diverse group that shares an interest in improving civil justice for the poor and a commitment to work together to build a better plan to meet the civil legal needs of these Alabamians. The 19-member Commission comprises of a wide range of citizens representing the legal profession, educational administration, religious community, military, business sector, advocacy groups representing low-income Alabamians and volunteers.

“The need for legal aid in Alabama is dire,” said Chief Justice Cobb. “According to recent statistics, Alabama ranks 51st in spending for legal aid to low-income residents. That’s less than every other state and Puerto Rico. Our studies show that Alabama spends less than $10 per person, compared to the national average of $23 per person.”

Unlike the criminal defense system, the constitutional guarantee of funding for low-income Alabamians who need civil legal assistance has not yet been met. The consequences of a lack of access to justice are devastating for the poor, and weaken a democratic society as a whole. Last year more than 422,000 households experienced more than 733,000 legal issues. Low-income households had legal assistance for only about 16 percent of these legal problems.

The Commission plans to work toward bringing together organizations that serve low-income Alabamians to maximize current resources available and look for new ways to acquire more funding and resources for low-income individuals who need civil legal services.

About Access to Justice:
Issued by judicial order in 2007, the Alabama Access to Justice Commission was created by Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb to address the lack of funds spent on Alabama’s low-income families for civil legal assistance. The 19-member Commission’s focus is to bring together organizations that serve the poor to maximize the use of current limited resources available for providing civil legal services. Alabama ranks 51st in the nation in spending for legal aid to the poor, and the Commission is working to close the “justice gap” to make sure all Alabamians have equal access to fair civil legal assistance.

Access to Justice Commission members:

Henry Callaway
Hand Arendall LLC
Mobile

Dean John L. Carroll
Cumberland School of Law
Birmingham

Rev. Thack Dyson
Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Daphne

Alan Engel
President, Crowne Partners
Birmingham

Judge James Fry
Regional Director, Legal Services Alabama
Gulf Shores

Henry A. Gaede Jr.
Bradley, Arant, Rose & White
Birmingham

Judge Rhonda Jones-Hardesty
Circuit Judge
Clanton

Frances Heidt
Attorney
Birmingham

Robin Hinkle
Lightfoot, Franklin & White
Birmingham

Ted Hosp
Maynard, Cooper & Gale
Birmingham

Judge Thomas Jones
Fourth Judicial Circuit
Selma

Sister Lynn McKenzie
Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery
Attorney, Knight, Griffith & McKenzie
Cullman

Dr. Charles Nash
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, University of Alabama System
Tuscaloosa

Sen. Myron Penn
Attorney and Alabama State Legislator
Union Springs

Daryl Perkins
Chief of Staff, Office of Congressman Artur Davis
Birmingham

Beth McFadden Rouse
McFadden, Lyon & Rouse
Mobile

Robert D. Segall
Copeland, Franco, Screws & Gill
Montgomery

Robert Ward Jr.
Rushton Stakely
Montgomery

Herman A. Watson
Watson, Jimmerson & McKinney
Huntsville

Tracy Daniel
Executive Director, Alabama Law Foundation
Montgomery

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Media Contact: Doug Andrews, Panorama Public Relations, 205.328.9334, doug@prview.com