Equal Access to Justice Commission Media Release from NC Bar Association
May 2, 2006
New Commission Convenes at Bar Center
The N.C. Bar Center hosted the organizational meeting of the N.C.
Equal Access to Justice Commission on Thursday, April 27. The daylong
session focused on providing background information on the access to
justice commission movement, both nationally and in North Carolina,
and historical information on the legal services movement in our state
to the commissioners and guests.
Included among the special guests was Evelyn Pursley, executive director
of NC IOLTA and the individual often credited for initiating this conversation
in North Carolina. She spoke on the commission’s historical context
and explained that the notion of getting the entire legal profession
wrapped around these issues is what the commission is about.
Attending the initial meeting of the Chief Justice's Equal Access
to Justice Commission were: Kenneth Schorr, Rhonda Raney, Catherine
Graham, E. Carol Spruill, Chief Justice Sarah Parker, Michelle Cofield
and Willis Williams. Middle: Judge Linda McGee, E. Fitzgerald Parnell,
Victor Boone, Anita Earls, J. Donald Cowan, Barbara Roole, Judge Robinson
Hassell and Judge Paul Jones. Back: former Chief Justice I. Berverly
Lake, Jr., George Hanna II, Richard Taylor, Judge James Long, James
Goodmon, R. Calwell Adams, George Hausen, Rep. Martha Alexander, Michael
Rizer and Mel Garafolo.
In North Carolina, all of the groups represented on the commission
have an interest in the delivery of civil legal services for the state’s
low and modest income people in and have played some part in providing
services, but never have they worked together as this commission intends
to do.
North Carolina is perhaps the only state to include a member of the
philanthropic community in its commission membership. This community
in North Carolina has a long and deep commitment to the delivery of
civil legal services in our state.
Also attending was former Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake Jr. whose order
established the commission last year.
The commission’s first public forum will take place on Saturday, June
17 at 12:30 p.m. during the NCBA Annual Meeting in Atlantic Beach. This
forum follows up last year’s standing-room only roundtable discussion,
and will provide an opportunity for annual meeting participants to meet
many of the commission members and to learn more about its goals and
objectives.
The commission will submit regular written reports to the state Supreme
Court, the N.C. State Bar and the North Carolina Bar Association. The
reports will also be posted on the NCBA Web site.
The Equal Access to Justice Commission was established by the N.C. Supreme
Court on Nov. 3, 2005. Fully constituted, the commission has 25 members
representing the legal profession, the judiciary, government and the
business, philanthropic and client communities.
Chief Justice Sarah Parker chairs this commission while Michelle Cofield,
NCBA director of public service and pro bono activities, serves as its
executive director.
The Commission is housed in the NCBA Foundation.
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
Disclaimer
The materials contained on this website are for information and educational
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
an attorney regarding your particular situation. See our complete
disclaimer.
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.