RES 679 Draft 01 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• increasing and stabilizing long-term public and private funding and resources for delivery of civil legal services; • increasing pro bono contributions by attorneys through such things as rule changes, recruitment campaigns, increased judicial involvement and increased recognition for contributors; and • reducing barriers to the civil justice system by developing resources to overcome language, cultural and other barriers and by giving input on existing and proposed laws, court rules, regulations, procedures and policies that may affect meaningful access to justice; and WHEREAS, the establishment of the Access to Justice Commission was the first recommendation of the ten-step action plan included in the report Achieving Access to Justice, for Hawai `i 's People; and WHEREAS, the remaining nine points of the ten-step action plan, as further delineated in the attached "Exhibit A", are as follows: (2) Increase Funding to Support the Delivery of Legal Services to Ensure Access to Justice. (3) Develop a Culture that Values Providing Pro Bono Services. (4) Establish the Recognition of the Right to a Lawyer in Civil Cases Where Basic Human Needs are at Stake. (5) Enable Individuals to Represent Themselves Effectively When Necessary. (6) Maximize the Use of Available Resources. (7) Overcome Barriers to Access to Justice. (8) Expand the Role of the William S. Richardson School of Law in Promoting Access to Justice. (9) Increase Access to Justice in Other Ways. (10) Form a Broad Coalition to Address Ways to Alleviate Poverty in Hawaii. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it supports the Hawaii Supreme Court rule to create an Access to Justice Commission, which will facilitate the expansion of civil legal services to low income residents of Hawaii. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Hawaii County Council encourages the implementation of the remaining nine points of the ten-step action plan. 2