Pro Se Task Force

CONTACT PERSON: VALERIE WILLARD

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
(504) 310-2590
 JUNE 8, 2009    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chief Justice Catherine D. “Kitty” Kimball announced today that the Louisiana Supreme Court has appointed 16 members who will sit on the newly established Pro Se Litigant Task Force. According to Chief Justice Kimball, “The purpose of the committee is to study the issue of pro se, or ‘self represented,’ litigants and to examine what steps can be taken to assist such litigants and to make appropriate recommendations.”


The committee is comprised of judges and lawyers from a wide array of public interest law practice. Judge Harry F. Randow, 9th Judicial District Court, is the Chairman of The Pro Se Litigant Task Force. The other members are: Judge Jerome J. Barbera, III, 17th Judicial District Court; Judge Christopher J. Bruno, Orleans Civil District Court; Judge Scott J. Crichton, 1st Judicial District Court; Bernadette D’Souza, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services; Christy Kane, Louisiana Appleseed; Kathleen McNelis, Louisiana Bar Foundation; Monte T. Mollere, Louisiana State Bar Association-Access to Justice; Mark Moreau, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services; Joseph R. Oelkers, III, Acadiana Legal Services; Judy Pace, Judge Kent D. Savoie, 14th Judicial District Court; Marta Schnabel, Louisiana State Bar Association -Access to Justice; Lisa Stansky, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services-Pro Se Court Project; Judge Stephens H. Winters, 4th Judicial District Court; and Judge Lisa Woodruff-White, East Baton Rouge Family Court.


For more information on the Pro Se Litigant Task Force, contact Brian Wiggins with the Louisiana Supreme Court Judicial Administrator’s Office at 504-310-2568.

Nicholas James

[My life has been crazier than a work of fiction.....who'da believed?]

I'm impressed.

3kidsmom

"He who represents himself has a fool for a client" --that will not change.

I don't see this working too well in the real world.

lex

Doesn't every American have a right to free, quality legal care? 

I say we ask President Obama to pass a law giving us all universal legal care with a single payor system.   

Nicholas James

[My life has been crazier than a work of fiction.....who'da believed?]

New Mexico has an excellent pro se system. Not only do they have most of the legal forms online,they tell you how to fill them out. Then, at the district courts, attorneys volunteer hours twice a week (Two days, set times) to actually assist with any quesitons or explain the filing process.

There will ALWAYS be people who can't afford attorneys, Nick's idea aside. This is a way to equalize the situation just a bit.

3kidsmom

"He who represents himself has a fool for a client" --that will not change...
I don't see this working too well in the real world.

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

I prefer to hire an attorney to represent me in the court system...

However, when you have legal issues and can't afford an attorney, you still have to carry on.

Nicholas James

Speaking of t-shirts...

lex

 

I'll see your T-shirt and raise you one...

"VEGETARIAN* Except for Bacon"

Nicholas James

"He who represents himself has a fool for a client" --that will not change.

I don't see this working too well in the real world.

"A fool and his money are soon parted"

JWPEPPER

[My life has been crazier than a work of fiction.....who'da believed?]

It works out well in the states that are doing it. Like any other new 'thing', it takes getting used to and it also takes having a certain percentage of attorneys scheduled to work the pro se booth on a weekly basis.

3kidsmom