The Path To Equal Justice – A Five Year Status Report On Access To Justice In California (2002)

Five years [before 2002], access to justice for the poor was near the bottom of California’s public policy agenda. California was one of a few states that had not appropriated government funds to support civil legal services for the poor. Legal services programs helped low-income clients facing critical legal needs, but they were often underfunded and understaffed. Courts were not equipped to assist those who appeared without lawyers, and some even posted signs that discouraged litigants from asking for help. Despite broad public support for legal aid programs, California was far from living up to our country’s goal of “justice for all,” and – worse yet – few people in power seemed concerned about that failure.