• head shot photo of Michael Houlberg
    Michael Houlberg
January 8, 2019
The percentage of self-represented litigants in many state family courts is substantial. According to a new post by the National Self-Represented Litigants Project (NSRLP), these self-represented parties often feel like outsiders in a court system that appears to them as a private club.
  • Image of Brittany Kauffman
    Brittany Kauffman
January 7, 2019
For the fifth year in a row, the National Center for State Courts has conducted a comprehensive public opinion survey to gauge the level of public trust and confidence in the state courts. The State of the State Courts survey provides an important window into public views of our court system, including comparisons across past surveys and insights into key issues for the future of our state courts including self-representation and online dispute resolution.
  • Image of Alli Gerkman
    Alli Gerkman
January 7, 2019
Employers, particularly those in large firms, have been candid about their hiring preferences, which lean toward academic excellence. The legal profession is rampant with biases in favor of academic excellence. However, as it turns out, the best and the brightest might not be all they’re cracked up to be.
  • Image of Rebecca Love Kourlis
    Rebecca Love Kourlis
January 2, 2019
Dick Holme has been an invaluable resource at IAALS over the years. With his pioneering insights, steadfast dedication, and hard work, Dick has not only helped shape IAALS, but the legal system as well. We thank him for his continued thought leadership and philanthropic commitment to IAALS.
  • Image of Brittany Kauffman
    Brittany Kauffman
December 24, 2018
The National Center for State Courts recently released an “explainer video” for courts to use as a resource when educating the public about the role of our state courts. The video looks back at the establishment of the judicial branch and the vision of our founders—of a court system that makes decisions based on law not public opinion, that is fair and impartial, that is accountable to the law and the Constitution, and open to people.
  • Image of Brittany Kauffman
    Brittany Kauffman
December 4, 2018
Over the past two years, IAALS has been collaborating with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) on a three-year project to support the modernization and transformation of civil litigation in our state courts. In October we hosted our final meeting for the Midwest Region in Kansas City, Missouri, where over 40 states and territories attended.
  • Image of Rebecca Love Kourlis
    Rebecca Love Kourlis
December 3, 2018
As a former president of the ACTL and one of our very first board members, Ozzie has been an invaluable resource at IAALS, and his steadfast dedication to the organization has been critical to its success. We thank him for over a decade of hard work at IAALS and his continued support of our mission.
  • Image of John Montgomery
    John Montgomery
November 30, 2018
Many courts across the country struggle with overburdened staff and inefficient processes. However, those within the judiciary are now turning to technology to make their courts more efficient and narrow the equal justice gap.
  • Image of John Montgomery
    John Montgomery
November 21, 2018
At IAALS, much of our work centers around increasing access to civil justice—especially for those who are navigating our legal system without the assistance of a lawyer. As more and more litigants represent themselves, by choice or necessity, the need for a broader infrastructure to support them is essential, both inside and outside the court. IAALS’ Court Compass project is leading the charge in that arena.
  • Photo of Laila Robbins
    Laila Robbins
November 15, 2018
State courts, where 95 percent of all cases are filed, are powerful. Their decisions can have profound effects on our rights and our lives—from whether Massachusetts officials can detain people based on a request from federal immigration authorities to whether a Michigan voter-initiated redistricting proposal could appear on the ballot.
  • Image of John Montgomery
    John Montgomery
November 13, 2018
More and more law schools and legal educators are embracing the fact that legal theory and skill aren’t enough to satisfy today’s legal employers. In response to this new reality, R. Lisle Baker, Professor of Law at Suffolk University in Boston, has created a course on Positive Psychology for law students.
  • Image of Dan Slayton
    Dan Slayton
November 12, 2018
On November 6, Coconino County became the first rural county in Arizona to voluntarily change from a partisan-popular election of superior court judges to a merit selection-judicial retention election.