ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION CONVENES FIRST MEETING

The Hawai`i Supreme Court Justices welcomed Access to Justice Commission members at the first commission meeting on July 23.
First row (l-r): Hon. Simeon Acoba, Jr., Hon. Steven Levinson, Hon. Ronald Moon, Hon. Paula Nakayama and Hon. James Duffy, Jr.
Second row: Hon. Simone Polak, Puanani Burgess, Moya Gray, Lillian Koller, Mary Anne Magnier and Jill Hasegawa.
Third row: Hon. Calvin Murashige, Shannon Wack, Rai Saint Chu, Hon. Greg Nakamura and Mahealani Wendt.
Fourth row: Patti Lyons, Elton Johnson, Charles Greenfield and Hon. Daniel Foley.
Fifth row: Dean Aviam Soifer and Hon. Richard P. Guy (ret.) Photo by Brett Pruitt.

Associate Supreme Court Justice Simeon Acoba provided the opening remarks at the first official meeting of the Access to Justice Commission (AJC) on July 23 in the Supreme Court conference room.

“The Access to Justice Commission is an effort to institutionalize a commitment to equal justice under the law by eliminating artificial barriers to such access based on economic status, race, language, culture, and court procedures. I know we look forward to working together toward that common goal and to do so in an objective, constructive, positive way,” said AJC Chair Acoba.

The AJC was established by the Hawai`i Supreme Court on May 1, 2008 to provide ongoing leadership and oversee efforts to improve the delivery of civil legal services for low- and moderate-income residents of Hawai`i.

The 22 commission members spent their first meeting discussing procedures and establishing committees to brainstorm ideas and carry out the commission’s work.

Chief Justice Ronald Moon recognized the Access to Justice Hui members for their efforts to establish the AJC. The Hui's 2007 report called for the creation of the AJC in response to their finding that only one in five low- and moderate-income Hawai`i residents have their civil legal needs met and that legal service providers are able to serve only one in three of those who contact them for assistance.

“The dim forecast of the state’s economic future underscores the importance of the work done by the Access to Justice Hui and the work that will be done by the Access to Justice Commission,” Chief Justice Moon said as he thanked the members of the Hui for their substantial efforts in creating a list of recommendations to increase access to justice by those who need it the most. To the AJC members, Chief Justice Moon remarked, “It is now up to all of us to continue the good work of the Hui members.”

During the meeting, the Hawai`i State Bar Association presented an award to George Zweibel, President of the Legal Aid Society of Hawai`i, for his significant contributions to the Hui.