Thursday marked the end for the Florida Commission on Access to Civil Justice.
The 18-month effort ushered into place by state Supreme Court Justice Jorge Labarga sunset and issued its last report with a single recommendation.
That call: Keep it going. There’s still too much work to be done for low- and moderate-income Florida residents whose legal needs are unmet.
Seven goals at the outset included identifying barriers to justice, finding a way to evaluate and coordinate current services and figuring out current resources — and future if they’re found — can help the problem. But an issue affecting millions of Floridians wasn’t going to have a quick resolution.
The 27-member panel of judges, attorneys, elected officials, the business community and others unanimously agreed on the idea to keep the commission in place as a way to build upon the foundation of the first term.
“I think we accomplished a significant amount of work,” said Jim Kowalski, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid executive director and a member of the commission.
The panel had the advantage of seeing how other state groups functioned and built on those for some tangible outcomes.
Progress is being made on a pilot program in Clay County for a much-discussed gateway portal that will connect those in need with a one-stop resource.
Users involved with landlord-tenant and family law situations will be able to log on and answer questions to help get them to an area that can best serve them. Maybe it’s a legal aid provider or a do-it-yourself form — regardless, it should provide clarity.
Akerman partner William Van Nortwick, U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan, Holland & Knight partner Dominic Mackenzie and Kowalski played a role in the committee that helped develop the portal, which is being funded by federal settlement proceeds.
Kowalski said the gateway concept being implemented in Clay County in the next couple of months is a concept that will be the benchmark for the rest of the country.
The outreach committee also is developing a survey for employees of businesses and organizations about what legal issues affect them the most. Results will further go to help business owners understand the impact of unmet legal needs.
Retired judges, lawyers and law professors could provide pro bono help with the change of The Florida Bar emeritus rules. The state Supreme Court has referred it to the state Bar.
The state Bar’s Rules Committee signed off on the change and a second reading could happen later this month.
If approvals continue, it could be filed with the court before Oct. 31.
If it goes into effect, it would increase the pool of candidates from 24 emeritus attorneys to about 3,200. That includes law professors who would be able to provide extra assistance by way of students, too.
Another proposal relating to adding funding still has some work before it has even a chance for approval. Residual funds from class-action lawsuits could go toward pro bono services with some rule changes, but to be determined is whether the courts or state Legislature need to make that change.
In his letter to his Supreme Court colleagues, Labarga said he was confident the commission is on the right path toward solving the issue long-term. The commission is prepared to continue that work.
It just needs more time — and the OK to do so.
In the meantime, Kowalski said the efforts that already have begun “have no stop at all.”
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