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Access to Justice Board
Recognizing that access to the civil justice system is a fundamental right, the Access to Justice Board works to achieve equal access for those facing economic and other significant barriers. The Access to Justice (ATJ) Board was established by the Washington State Supreme Court in 1994 at the request of the Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors in response to a growing need to coordinate the access to justice efforts in Washington State to provide continuity and focus. In carrying out its goals and objectives, the ATJ Board is guided by the enabling Order of the Washington State Supreme Court, the Hallmarks of an Effective Statewide Legal Services Delivery System, the ATJ Board's Statement of Principles and Goals and its Operational Rules. In addition to providing leadership on issues facing the delivery of civil legal services, the ATJ Board oversees the implementation of its Revised Plan for the Delivery of Civil Legal Services to Low Income People in Washington State (State Plan), oversees the work of its committees, ensures that the annual Access to Justice Conference Recommendations are implemented, and coordinates closely with the work of the Washington State Bar Association's Pro Bono and Legal Aid Committee on its implementation of the Volunteer Attorney Legal Services Action Plan (VALS) Plan and the Council on Public Legal Education. See also Washington State Plan Background information. Requests for ATJ Board support from third-party entities should follow the guidelines and form posted here: ATJ Board Guidelines for Third-Pary Support Requests and ATJ Board Third-Party Support Request e-form. The ATJ Board resulted from years of effort by members of Washington's legal community. Reports in the mid-1980's by two Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) pro bono task forces and the WSBA's Legal Aid Committee documented the massive growing needs. The WSBA's 1989-1990 Long-Range Planning Committee, chaired by William H. Gates, in turn identified access to justice as the number-one issue facing the WSBA and sounded the alarm that the system as we know it would break down unless the legal needs of all people are addressed. Successive WSBA presidents Joe Delay and Steve DeForest carried that message to the WSBA Board of Governors, that established WSBA's 1992-93 Access to Justice Task Force, chaired by then WSBA Governor Tom Chambers. It spent a year developing proposed solutions to the lack continuity, coordination and organization in the delivery of existing services and ultimately recommended the creation of the ATJ Board, and autonomous body operating under the auspices of the WSBA in accordance with authority granted by the Supreme Court. The Washington State Supreme Court established the ATJ Board in 1994 by Court Order for a two-year evaluation period. The Court reauthorized the ATJ Board in November 1996 for an additional five years. On November 3, 2000 the Supreme Court reauthorized the Access to Justice Board, making it permanent. The ATJ Board has nine members nominated by the WSBA Board of Governors and appointed by the Supreme Court. Five positions represent specific groups involved with civil legal services. The remaining four members are individuals with a demonstrated commitment to, and familiarity with, access to justice issues. Current members are:
The ATJ Board reports to the Washington State Supreme Court and the WSBA Board of Governors every year. The ATJ Board meets approximately seven times per year. Board meetings are open and Minutes from the ATJ Board meetings for the past 12 months are available on this site. Please contact staff if you would like to see archived meeting minutes. Access to Justice Board Meetings, 2009-2010 Thursday, October 15, 2009 (afternoon only)
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