User-Friendly and Accessible Courts
Justice for all requires court systems that are organized and resourced to service the significant number of individuals navigating cases without the assistance of lawyers. User-friendly court systems will include simplified rules and processes, self-help resources, and helpful and respectful interactions with judges and staff, especially in areas of the law where most cases involve at least one litigant who is not represented by a lawyer.
Key Elements
- Self-help services that are treated and funded as core functions of the court system
- Judicial leadership on access to justice issues
- Judicial education and court staff education that
- adhere to adult learning best practices
- cover topics including:
- Engaging effectively with SRLs
- Resources, services, and referrals for SRLs
- Information versus advice (for court staff)
- Procedural fairness (for judges)
- Accessibility issues and resources, including language access and disability access
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Court processes and rules are standardized and simplified to reduce the burden on self-represented litigants