Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission

Highlights from March 22nd Meeting of the ATJ Commission Thank you to the Commissioners and guests who joined us for the most recent meeting of the MA ATJ Commission on Thursday, March 22, 2018 at the Adams Courthouse. Highlights and key takeaways from the meeting included: Legal Services Corporation Funding Update: the recent $1.3 trillion […]

Upcoming ATJ Commission Meeting Thursday, March 22 from 3-5pm in the Social Law Library at the Adams Courthouse in Boston Overview of Agenda: Trial Court Access to Justice initiative update on court forms; Justice For All update on proposed pilot projects; Trial Court Cell Phone Policy presentation by the Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law, with discussion to follow;  and Administrative Justice Committee update. For reference, we […]

Upcoming ATJ Commission Meeting Thursday, January 18th at 3pm – Overview of Agenda The next ATJ Commission meeting will be taking place this Thursday, January 18th from 3-5pm in the Social Law Library at the Adams Courthouse in Boston. The agenda will include: a discussion of the progress and goals of the Criminal-Civil Crossover Committee, […]

Pictured above, left to right: John Carroll, Chief Justice Ralph Gants, Gerry Singsen, and Justice Geraldine Hines   Each year, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) hosts the Catalyst for Change Award Reception to honor the accomplishments of those in the legal profession working to advance MLRI’s mission of advancing economic, racial, and social justice through legal action, policy advocacy, coalition building, and […]

Upcoming ATJ Commission Meeting Thursday, October 12th at 3pm – Overview of Agenda The first 2017-2018 ATJ Commission meeting will be taking place this Thursday, October 12th from 3-5pm at the Social Law Library at the Adams Courthouse in Boston. We will kick off the year by welcoming Chief Justice Ralph Gants as the returning […]

MA ATJ Commission Welcomes New Consultant, CLA’s Laura Gal We are thrilled to welcome Laura Gal as the new consultant to the MA Access to Justice Commission! Laura brings years of professional experience in law and legal aid to the role. Laura is currently a staff attorney in the Family Law Unit of Community Legal […]

Commission Releases Annual Report The Third Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission (“Commission”) has released its 2017 Annual Report on Activities detailing the Commission’s ongoing work and. This past year, the Third Commission had significant victories in various initiatives, including: receiving one of seven Justice For All grants from the Public Welfare Foundation; successfully advocating for […]

In February 2015, the Supreme Judicial Court appointed the third Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission (Third Commission), after the end of the Second Commission. Charged with providing leadership, vision, and coordination in the search for “equal justice for all persons in the Commonwealth,” the Third Commission adopted a Mission Statement that focused on five core […]

Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants to Succeed Justice Geraldine Hines as Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission Co-Chair We are pleased to announce that Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants will succeed retiring Supreme Judicial Court Associate Justice Geraldine Hines as Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission. Chief Justice Gants had previously […]

In 2015, the Supreme Judicial Court’s third Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission (“Commission”) adopted a Mission Statement which included increasing the legal services provided by private attorneys to those who cannot obtain the services of counsel. To implement this goal, the Commission appointed the Access to Attorneys Committee (“Committee”), chaired by attorneys Joel Feldman and […]