Paths to Justice: Learning from this Nationwide Pilot Project—Reducing the Costs and Delays of Civil Litigation
On September 9, as part of our Paths to Justice Summit Series, IAALS hosted "Learning from this Nationwide Pilot Project—Reducing the Costs and Delay of Civil Litigation," the first of two webinars on the paths of the pandemic.
The pandemic will have lasting implications for our justice system. The burden on the system will grow as the impacts on people’s lives and businesses translate into justice needs, both in society and ultimately in our courts. The immediate focus on keeping the doors of justice open will continue to shift to growing case backlogs and how to best utilize the innovations we’ve adopted in the pandemic going forward. Our justice system must plan accordingly, anticipating and cushioning these consequences and taking advantage of the opportunities.
This program focused on standard and complex litigation, both in our state and federal courts. We have focused for many years on lowering the costs of litigation, particularly through rule changes, discovery reform, changes to motions practice, and increased case management. Pilot projects have been instrumental to test and evaluate civil justice reforms over the last decade. What have we learned in this pandemic—and through this nationwide pilot project—regarding how to make litigation less expensive and more accessible?
This esteemed panel featured Hon. Wallace B. Jefferson (Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Texas (Ret.), Partner, Alexander Dubose & Jefferson), Ariana J. Tadler (Founding Partner, Tadler Law LLP), and Hon. Samuel A. Thumma (Judge, Arizona Court of Appeals), whose conversation was moderated by Hon. Lee H. Rosenthal (Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division).
Thank you to the attendees of this convening who generously gave of their time and expertise to brainstorm around these important issues.
Paths to Justice Summit Series
The goal of this convening was to bring together a group of diverse perspectives and partners to capture the lessons we have learned from the past year, identify continuing challenges, and inspire additional research. We hope the following summary helps to bring focus and clarity to the dialogue and ongoing innovation.