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Message from Our Executive Director |
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It’s December, a time when many people are thinking about the holidays and the new year ahead—as well as about charitable giving and philanthropic priorities. We hope that this giving season you are also thinking about core American values—access to justice, trust in the courts, and judicial excellence. For our part, we are thinking of you and are so appreciative of your support and involvement. Take a moment to review our short Action and Impact summary and celebrate with us the accomplishments and progress we have all made possible by working together.
As you know, this work does not happen without significant investment, which is why we’re asking you to consider making a gift to IAALS today. Every gift matters. Every gift counts. Every gift advances our pursuit of excellence in the legal system.
Rebecca Love Kourlis, IAALS Executive Director
December 2017
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Partner Profile: John Moye of Moye|White LLP
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IAALS simply would not be what it is without the support of our partners and friends. This month, we profile John Moye, Founding Partner at Moye|White LLP in Denver, Colorado.
John has been with IAALS every step of the way since our inception. He has been available for counsel, support, and strategic thinking; he has regaled us with his “Contract Rap” after dinner at Board meetings; and he helped us to do the fundraising for the building that now bears his name, John Moye Hall; and so much more.
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Convening Highlights the Role of Judges and Lawyers in Improving Motions Practice
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While a significant focus of civil justice reform has been on the cost and delay of discovery, IAALS has heard the call for reform in the area of motions practice as well, which can similarly result in great cost and delay to the parties.
IAALS hosted a convening last month at the Penrose House in Colorado Springs, devoted to addressing the current challenges in dispositive motions practice as well as potential solutions. The discussion was informed by early insights from a federal PACER docket study that IAALS is conducting, which provided background on current summary judgment processes as well as insights regarding innovations already in place around the country. We will be pulling together the takeaways and working over the next year to compile a set of recommendations.
Read more.
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Upcoming Workshop on the Nuts and Bolts of
Civil Justice Reform
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On January 18-19, 2018, in Phoenix, Arizona, the National Center for State Courts and the Maricopa County Superior Court will host a Civil Justice Initiative Implementation Workshop on the Nuts and Bolts of Civil Justice Reform. This workshop is part of the three-year implementation effort that follows the Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators endorsement of 13 recommendations designed to transform the civil justice system in our state courts.
The 1½ day workshop at the Maricopa County Superior Court will feature experienced trial judges and administrators who have implemented the recommendations in their own courts and can speak to both the process and the impact on the ground. Courts are encouraged to bring teams so they can work together to develop action plans to take back home to their courts. Online registration is available here.
Read more.
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To Be a Good Lawyer, One Has to Be a Healthy Lawyer,
New Report Finds
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It is common knowledge that many lawyers and law students struggle with high stress as well as high rates of depression and substance abuse. Now, the ABA’s National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being is suggesting that these characteristics interfere with the legal profession's dedication to serving clients and dependence on the public’s trust.
The task force, formed to promote nationwide awareness, recognition and treatment, outlines a number of recommendations in its report, titled "The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change." The recommendations are accompanied by proposed state action plans and checklists that can help individual stakeholders assess their situations and review pertinent recommendations.
Read more.
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Colorado Judges Teach Civics to the Public
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In a society where only 26 percent of adults can name all three branches of the federal government and a third cannot even name one, Colorado's judicial branch has sought to improve its citizens’ civics knowledge through Our Courts Colorado. The nonpartisan program provides civics education presentations in both English and Spanish for adults in their communities across the state, many given by state and federal judges. The presentations cover topics on court processes and how courts affect the lives of average citizens.
The partnership, which is in its tenth year, was started by the Colorado Judicial Institute and the Colorado Bar Association, and has grown to include IAALS and many other organizations. Similar programs have popped up in the Second, Third, and Ninth Circuits with more programs in development across the country.
Read more.
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"I served for fifteen years on the New Hampshire Supreme Court and for years before that as a trial lawyer. I had a very good understanding of the many strengths of our justice system but knew that it was not fulfilling its promise; it was increasingly too slow, too expensive, and too rule and form based to allow for timely access.
"IAALS has earned my lasting respect and gratitude for its willingness and incredible capacities to impartially examine and challenge our justice system with an intense and sincere interest to make it more affordable, understandable, and accessible for more people—the represented and unrepresented alike. IAALS deserves its national reputation for promoting thoughtful, cutting edge ideas for judicial branch reform and the impact of its extraordinary work continues to be felt across the country. Maintaining its continued vitality is critically important for our justice system and for all those who need meaningful access to its indispensable services." |
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If you have questions about ways to give, need instructions for giving appreciated stock, or including IAALS in your will or estate plan, please contact Carol J. Miller, Director of Strategic Partnerships, at 303-871-6613 or carol.miller@du.edu. |
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