THE SUPREME COURT OF WASHINGTON
Order Reauthorizing the Access to Justice Board
ORDER
WHEREAS, Washington's justice system is founded upon the fundamental principle that the justice system is accessible to all person, which advancement is of fundamental interest to the members of the Washington State Bar Association;
WHEREAS, there is an extensive network of agencies, organizations and individual attorneys providing legal services to low and moderate income person;
WHEREAS, there is a need to coordinate the activities of this network to ensure continuity and focus
WHEREAS, the Board of Governors of the Washington State Bar Association petitioned this Court to create an Access to Justice Board for the purposes here stated, to be funded by the Association;
WHEREAS, the Supreme Court of Washington established the Access to Justice Board on April 18, 1994, for an initial evaluation period of two years to assure access for low and moderate income residents of the State of Washington to the civil justice system through high quality legal services;
WHEREAS, the Access to Justice Board has completed its initial evaluation period of two years;
ORDER
WHEREAS, the Access to Justice Board has successfully carried out this Court's mandate to assist in providing access to low ant moderate income residents of the State of Washington in civil matters;
AND FURTHER, the Access to Justice Board has proven to be an effective mechanism for coordinating, improving and advancing civil access to justice for low and moderate income state residents;
Now, therefore. it is hereby
ORDERED:
That as here provided the Access to Justice Board as administered by the Washington State Bar Association be reauthorized for a five (5) year term to continue to assure access for low ant moderate income residents of the State of Washington to the civil justice system through high quality legal services.
The Access to Justice Board shall continue to serve as an effective, efficient, and enduring mechanism for coordinating and developing activities, and for developing and implementing policies and initiative that shall enhance, improve and strengthen civil access to justice.
The Access to Justice Board shall consist of nine (9) attorney members nominated by the Board of Governors of the Washington State Bar Association and appointed by the Supreme Court Consideration for appointment Consideration for appointment to be given will be given to representatives form the following groups.
ORDER
Board for Judicial Administration
Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors
Legal Foundation of Washington
State and/or federally funded Legal Services programs
Pro bono Community
The remaining four (4) members shall be nominated on the basis of demonstrated commitment to, and familiarity with, access to justice issues.
The member ship of the Board shall reflect ethnic, gender, geographic, and other diversity.
The Board shall designate one member as the chairperson of the 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 continue to 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 21st day of November, 1996.
BY ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT.
