ABA commission promotes access to civil justice with grants to five groups
Citing a goal of expanding access to civil justice, an ABA commission has announced grants to courts and legal groups in five states.
The money would promote Access to Justice Commissions in states where they do not exist, according to a press release. Twenty-seven states and Washington, D.C., already have such commissions. They have helped expand support for pro se litigants, developed pro bono initiatives, promoted collaboration among civil legal-aid providers, and increased awareness of the legal needs of low-income people.
The grants, awarded by the ABA Access to Justice Commission Expansion Project, were funded by the Public Welfare Foundation and the Kresge Foundation. The groups receiving the grants are: the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education, the Supreme Court of Ohio, the Supreme Court of Oklahoma, the Philadelphia Bar Association, and the Rhode Island Judiciary.
Seven other groups received grants last October. The Access to Justice Commission Expansion Project is currently accepting applications for “innovation grants” to current commissions. Applications are due May 1.
