100% Access to Civil Justice System
Justice for All
The Michigan Justice for All (JFA) Commission is committed to providing 100% access to our civil justice system. With input from stakeholders all across Michigan, the Task Force will first inventory various aspects of the civil justice landscape, identify gaps, and then develop and implement a comprehensive approach to fill those gaps.
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JFA COMMISSION ANNOUNCED (JANUARY 2021)
Michigan Supreme Court
Chief Justice Bridget M. McCormack on January 26
announced the
Court’s adoption of Administrative Order 2021-1, which creates a new Justice for All (JFA) Commission that
will work toward the goal of 100 percent access to our civil justice system.
News Release: Supreme Court Announces Commission Charged with Closing the Justice Gap, Improving Court Access for All Michiganians - Jan. 26, 2021
Administrative Order 2021-1
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JFA REPORT NEWS CONFERENCE (DECEMBER 2020)
Chief Justice Bridget McCormack and Justice Brian Zahra release the JFA Report, joined by the JFA Report Planning Team, which includes the Michigan State Bar Foundation, Michigan Legal Help, the State Bar of Michigan, representatives from the State Court Administrative office, and a court administrator.
JFA Report
News Release: Supreme Court Unveils Report Aimed at Closing the Justice Gap
VIDEO: JFA Report News Conference (December 15, 2020)
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DETROIT TOWN HALL MEETING (FEBRUARY 2020)
Opening the public town hall meeting in Detroit: (l to r) Jennifer Bentley, executive director of Michigan State Bar Foundation; Chief Justice Bridget McCormack;
and Justice Brian Zahra.
David Robinson, interim executive director of the Wayne County Dispute
Resolution Center--overseen by the State Court Administrative Office--sharing information with Detroit town hall attendees about the benefits of
dispute resolution and how to find resources.
WATCH VIDEO OF DETROIT TOWN HALL.
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GRAND RAPIDS TOWN HALL MEETING (FEBRUARY 2020)
Nearly 100 people attended the Justice for All Task Force town hall meeting on February 14 in Grand Rapids, where Chief Justice Bridget McCormack and Justice Brian Zahra heard public testimony from local residents, advocates, and attorneys.
WATCH VIDEO OF GR TOWN HALL.
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JUSTICE FOR ALL INTERVIEW (JUNE 2019)
Chief Justice Bridget McCormack and Justice Brian Zahra, who represents the Supreme Court on the Justice for All Task Force, speaking in June 2019 to Mikenzie Frost of WWMT about Task Force goals.
Why is the JFA project important?
• The right to a lawyer applies only in criminal cases, not civil cases.
• Seven out of 10 low-income households had at least one civil legal problem in the
last year.
• Due to funding limitations, legal aid agencies must turn away over half of those
who seek their help.
• In three of four civil cases, at least one side represents themselves in court
because they can’t afford to pay an attorney.
• Only 10% of people with civil legal problems recognize their issue has a legal
component that may be solved by the civil justice system.
- • People who have done nothing wrong often lose their cases in court because they
- don’t have the legal information or help they need.
Michigan resources
Michigan Legal Help
• Homepage
• Find a lawyer in your area
• Self Help Centers
• Tips/Resources for going to court
National resources
National Center for State Courts (NCSC)
• Pro Bono and Volunteer Programs
Legal Services Corporation (LSC)
• Homepage
• Find Legal Aid
LawHelp.org
• Homepage
• Find legal help state
WomensLaw.org
Legal aid for victims of abuse
• Homepage
• Laws by State
ImmigrationLawHelp.org
Helps low-income immigrants find legal help
• Homepage
StateSideLegal.org
Legal help for military members, veterans, and their families
• Homepage
• Advocate Resources
• Map to find legal help
National Domestic Violence Directory
Resource for volunteer lawyers seeking to assist victims of violence
• Homepage