COMMITTEE ON EQUAL ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES

Whereas the Supreme Court recognizes that a reduction in federal funding for civil legal services has resulted in reduced legal services for low-income Vermonters, that the number of low-income people proceeding pro se in Vermont courts has greatly increased, and that lack of adequate representation deprives people of equal access to justice,

The Court hereby establishes the Committee on Equal Access to Legal Services to examine the civil legal needs of low-income Vermonters. The Committee shall assess the extent to which civil legal problems are not being addressed because of lack of funds to hire professional counsel or inability to effectively proceed pro se. The Committee shall prepare a report detailing its findings and making recommendations to the Court for solving any problems identified, including, but not limited to, recommendations for legislation, rule changes, increasing funding for civil legal services, and organizing the voluntary efforts of the bar to increase access to legal services.

With Court approval, the Committee shall develop a state-wide plan based on its report for the implementation of its recommendations.

The Supreme Court hereby appoints to the Committee on Equal Access to Legal Services the following persons:

Robert B. Hemley, Chair
Hon. Denise R. Johnson
Thomas Garrett, Esq.
Eric Avildsen, Esq.
Angele Court
Edna Fairbanks-Williams
Ellen Mercer Fallon, Esq.
Donald Rendall, Esq.
Dean Kinvin Wroth, Esq.
Sally Fox, Esq.
 

In the performance of their duties, the non-Judicial Branch members of the Committee shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses. The Judicial Branch members shall be reimbursed the normal state employee expenses. The Commissioner of Finance and Management shall pay from the judicial appropriation all expenses of the Committee when claims are submitted on proper vouchers approved by the Court Administrator or his designee.

Done in Chambers at Montpelier, Vermont this ____ day of September, 2000

_______________________________________
Jeffrey L. Amestoy, Chief Justice
_______________________________________
John A. Dooley, Associate Justice
_______________________________________
James L. Morse, Associate Justice
_______________________________________
Denise R. Johnson, Associate Justice
_______________________________________
Marilyn S. Skoglund, Associate Justice

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