Procedure, Fairness, and Access to Justice: Perspectives on Reform
This Collection examines the relationship between procedure and fairness. The Essays analyze rural criminal defense challenges, administrative rulemaking responsibilities, and the role of technology in improving access to justice. Together, they illuminate how procedural reform and technological integration might enhance fairness and responsiveness across diverse legal contexts.
Interoperable Legal AI for Access to Justice
This Essay argues that technological and procedural legal interoperability—that is, widespread consistency in legal technology design and related processes—can help stakeholders effectively leverage artificial intelligence to maximize access to legal services and fairness of outcomes through self-help options, with traditional legal services, and in the courts.
The Duty to Respond to Rulemaking Comments
This Essay examines the legal basis for the requirement that agencies must respond to significant comments they receive during a rulemaking proceeding, the pros and cons of that requirement, and how the requirement fits together with other principles of administrative law, including procedural fairness and standing to sue.
Legal Deserts and Spatial Injustice: A Study of Criminal Legal Systems in Rural Washington
This Essay uses a mixed-methods study to sketch operation of criminal legal systems in several rural counties in central and eastern Washington. The study reveals how an attorney shortage, along with reliance on local funding of justice system functions, is leaving defendants vulnerable to delays and ineffective assistance of counsel.
Lawyers’ Monopoly and the Promises of AI
Access to justice in American civil courts won’t come through free or pro bono lawyers. To drive down costs, we need to loosen bar regulation and streamline procedures. And we should embrace technology and AI responsibly to give more people the legal help they need but can’t afford.