Equal Access to Justice Commission
Cofield Will Direct Equal Access Commission
Media Release from NC Bar Association
April 11, 2006
Michelle Cofield
Michelle Smith Cofield, director of public service and pro bono activities
for the North Carolina Bar Association, has been appointed executive
director of the newly formed Equal Access to Justice Commission.
N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Sarah Parker announced the appointment.
Cofield, a 1991 graduate of the University of North Carolina School
of Law, also earned her undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. Originally
from Charlotte, she will continue in her role with the NCBA, where she
has served since 1998.
“Michelle Cofield is particularly well-positioned to serve as the executive
director of the Equal Access to Justice Commission,” said NCBA Executive
Director Allan Head. “She has a wonderful knowledge of the North Carolina
legal services community and the bar organizations in North Carolina
that provide state and local support.
"She has distinguished herself as an expert in organizing and coordinating
public services activities. The North Carolina Bar Association is honored
and happy to contribute her services to this important initiative.”
The 25-member commission, established by order of the state Supreme
Court and Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake Jr. last November, will include
representative stakeholders from across the state and will be chaired
by the chief justice.
Formation of the commission addresses the need to expand access to civil
legal representation for people of low income and modest means in North
Carolina, which becomes the 19th state to establish such a commission.
Among the purposes of the commission are unmet legal needs assessment,
statewide strategic planning, coordination of efforts between the legal
aid organizations and other legal and non-legal organizations, resource
development and expanding civil access to justice.
Charter members of the commission, denoted by areas of representation,
are:
Judiciary: Chief Justice Parker; Judge Linda M. McGee (Court of Appeals);
Judge Paul L. Jones (Superior Court); Judge A. Robinson Hassell (District
Court); and the Hon. Catherine P. Graham (Clerks of Superior Court).
Practicing Lawyers: Victor J. Boone and E. Fitzgerald Parnell (State
Bar); J. Donald Cowan Jr. and George Hanna III (NCBA/NCBA Foundation);
James M. Talley Jr. (IOLTA); Mel J. Garofalo (N.C. Association of Defense
Attorneys); Anita S. Earls (N.C. Association of Black Lawyers); and
Richard M. Taylor Jr. (N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers).
Legal Aid Programs: Reid Calwell Adams Jr. (Legal Aid of N.C., board);
George R. Hausen Jr. (Legal Aid of N.C., staff); Rhonda G. Raney (N.C.
Justice Center); and Ken Schorr (unrestricted legal aid program).
Law Schools: Dean E. Carol Spruill, Duke Law School.
Public Members: Governor and President of the Senate, or designees thereof;
Rep. Martha Alexander (designee of the Speaker of the House); Barbara
Roole, representing philanthropy community; Willis Williams, client
representative; and Jim Goodmon and Michael P. Rizer, business community
representatives.
The commission’s first meeting will take place on Thursday, April 27,
beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the N.C. Bar Center in Cary.
Disclaimer
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purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Please contact your
Legal Aid of North Carolina office or a private attorney if you need to speak to
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Mission Statement
Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that
provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in
order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers
to economic opportunity.