1994 Order Establishing the Access To Justice Board
THE SUPREME COURT OF WASHINGTON
ORDER ESTABLISHING ACCESS TO JUSTICE BOARD FOR AN INITIAL EVALUATION PERIOD OF TWO YEARS
WHEREAS, the Board of Governors of the Washington State Bar Association has petitioned this Court to create an Access to Justice Board for the purposes here stated, to be funded by the Association;
WHEREAS, the Washington judicial system is founded upon the fundamental principle that the judicial system is accessible to all persons, which advancement is of fundamental interest to the members of the Washington State Bar Association;
WHEREAS, there are a number of agencies, organizations and private attorneys involved in providing legal services to low and moderate income persons;
WHEREAS, there appears to be a need to coordinate the access to justice organizations to ensure continuity and focus; Now, therefore, it is hereby
ORDERED:
That as here provided an Access to Justice Board be established as administered by the Washington State Bar Association to aim at assuring access for low and moderate income residents of The State of Washington to the civil justice system through high quality legal services.
The Access to Justice Board should aim to serve as an effective, efficient, and enduring mechanism for coordinating and developing activities, and to develop and implement policies and initiatives that will enhance, improve and strengthen civil access to justice. The Access to Justice Board shall consist of nine members nominated by the Board of Governors of the Washington State Bar Association and appointed by the Supreme Court. Consideration for appointment may be given to representatives from the following groups:
Board for Judicial Administration
Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors
Legal Foundation of Washington
Federally-funded Legal Services Programs of Washington
Pro Bono Community
The remaining four (4) members shall be nominated on the basis of a demonstrated commitment to, and familiarity with, access to justice issues.
The membership of the Board shall reflect ethnic, gender, geographic, and other diversity.
The Board once created shall designate one member as the chairperson of the Board who shall serve a term of two (2) years and who shall be eligible for reappointment for one additona1 2-year term.
Subject to other provisions of this order, of the members first appointed, three (3) shall be for one (1) year, three (3) for two (2) years, and three (3) for three years. Thereafter, appointments .shall be for a three (3) year term. Board members shall be eligible for reappointment for one additional term. Those individuals appointed to the initial one (1) year may serve an additional two (2) three (3) year terms.
The Board shall work to: secure adequate funding for civil access to justice; coordinate civil access to justice and foster the development of a statewide, integrated, non-duplicative, civil legal services delivery system; serve as a repository of information relating to civil legal services issues; develop and implement policy initiatives and criteria which enhance the availability of resources; develop and implement new programs designed to expand access to justice opportunities; and address existing and proposed laws and regulations which may affect meaningful access to justice. The Board may adopt rules pertinent to these powers and duties, subject to approval by the Supreme Court.
Issues of staffing and expenses are the sole responsibility and prerogative of the Board of Governors. Any proposed budget for the Board shall be submitted to the Board of Governors of the Bar Association for approval and appropriation as no expenses may be incurred or paid without the prior approva1 of the Board of Governors.
The Board shall file evaluative interim reports as to its work with the Supreme Court Rules Committee and the Board of Governors of the Washington State Bar Association every six (6) months during the two (2) years of its existence under this Order. The duration of the Board shall be two (2) years from date, subject to renewal or change pursuant to further order of this Court based upon recommendation by the Board, the Board of Governors, and determination by the Supreme Court as to whether the continuation of the Board as may be recommended is fiscally responsible given its mandate and accomplishments and whether its mandate as carried out effectively assists in providing access to low and moderate income residents of the State of Washington in civi1 matters and further provides an effective mechanism to coordinate, improve and advance civil access to justice for low and moderate income state residents.
DATED at Olympia, Washington this 18th day of April, 1994.
BY ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT.
