New York Chief Judge Rowan Wilson will assess the state’s unmet civil legal needs at a statewide hearing Thursday.
Photo by Max Parrott
New York Chief Judge Rowan Wilson is holding a statewide hearing in order to take stock of the state court system’s unmet civil legal needs and address funding challenges on Thursday.
The hearing will focus on assessing the needs and barriers to the court system faced by low-income New Yorkers and vulnerable communities across the state, according to the Office of Court Administration.
During the proceeding, a panel of administrative judges will collect data and testimony from individuals and organizations about civil legal services, with an emphasis on gaps in resources. It will cover needs in housing, consumer debt, family and other civil court areas. The court system expects to cover the economic and social affects of civil service gaps, gaps in rural communities and solutions like volunteer programs and new technology.
The hearing, which will be livestreamed, will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Court of Appeals Hall, 20 Eagle St. in Albany.
Wilson will gather Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas, New York State Bar Association President Taa Grays and the judges at the head of each of the state’s appellate courts for the hearing including First Department Presiding Justice Dianne Renwick,, Second Department Presiding Justice Hector Lasalle, Third Department Presiding Justice Elizabeth Gary, Fourth Department Presiding Justice Gerald Whalen.
After the hearing, the New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice will analyze the results.