NASHVILLE — A pro bono summit in Nashville next year and an unprecedented partnership with public libraries are among the Tennessee Supreme Court’s main goals for increasing awareness and access to the legal system for the state’s poorest residents.
Chief Justice Janice M. Holder announced the goals Tuesday at the state Capitol. They are the product of almost two years of work in which the court has worked with lawyers and judges across the state to identify ways to combat the legal aid crisis in Tennessee.
“Lack of equal access in our civil courts remains one of the most pressing issues facing our court system today,” Justice Holder told a crowd of onlookers.
She reiterated that the state Supreme Court’s No. 1 strategic priority continues to be making sure people who cannot afford legal representation will be able to get the help they need.
The Access to Justice Commission, which the court formed in early 2009, largely helped identify all four top goals. They include engaging more lawyers in pro bono work, creating more educational opportunities for people who represent themselves in court, making the justice system more user-friendly and removing barriers to access to justice such as language, literacy and geography.