PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT
John Adams Courthouse
One Pemberton Square
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
MEDIA ADVISORY
CONTACT:
Jennifer Donahue/Erika Gully-Santiago
Jennifer.Donahue@sjc.state.ma.us
(617) 557-1114
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2017
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants and Appeals Court Chief Justice Scott L. Kafker to Speak at Reception Honoring Civil Appeals Court Clinic Attorney Volunteers
WHAT:
On Thursday, March 2, 2017, Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Gants and Appeals Court Chief Justice Kafker will speak at a reception honoring attorneys who have volunteered to assist low income individuals filing appeals in the Appeals Court and Supreme Judicial Court. Since 2015, the volunteer attorneys have helped 215 litigants who are representing themselves in civil appellate court matters on a number of issues, ranging from housing to family law.
Several years ago, under the leadership of then-Supreme Court Justice Gants, the Access to Justice Commission developed the concept of a pro bono appellate clinic and formed a committee to study pro bono appellate programs around the country and analyze whether Massachusetts would benefit from such a program.
The committee determined that there was a need for pro bono legal assistance for low income litigants at the Appeals Court and Supreme Judicial Court. The clinic, run out of the Appeals Court Clerk's Office, initially started in May of 2015 as a pilot program at the Court Service Center located in the Edward W. Brooke Courthouse in Boston.
The success of that program led to the permanent implementation of the Civil Appeals Court Clinic in December of 2015 that is available every Wednesday at the clerk's office with the support of Appeals Court Chief Justice Kafker, Appeals Court Clerk Joseph Stanton, the Supreme Judicial Court Clerk for the Commonwealth, several local law firms, and the Volunteer Lawyers Project, which manages the clinic. The clinic also has support from law firm volunteers, legal services organizations throughout the state, and bar associations.
WHEN:
Thursday, March 2, 2017
5:30 -7:00 p.m.
WHERE:
John Adams Courthouse
Second Floor Conference Suite
One Pemberton Square
Boston, MA
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