New Report on Public Trust and Confidence in the Civil Legal System

News and Updates
IAALS research uncovers critical areas that shape levels of trust in the legal system and what drives public perceptions and attitudes.  IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, released Public Perspectives on… MORE

California Relaxes Ethics Rules, Allowing Judges to Comment Publicly on Pending Cases

News and Updates
The 2018 election season saw several efforts to remove a judge from office based on a single controversial ruling. In Alaska, Superior Court Judge Michael Corey lost his bid for retention after he approved a no-jail time plea bargain for a defendant… MORE

Regulatory Reform and Racial Justice

News and Updates
The death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police has sparked protests across the country, as people call for a reckoning on systemic injustice and for long-overdue change. These recent events have led to conversations around reforming… MORE

Ohio's Reform Efforts Continue with Discovery Rule Amendments and Case Management Pilot Projects

News and Updates
For the second year in a row, Ohio is on track to make significant amendments to its Rules of Civil Procedure and to pilot a second civil justice case management reform project. Ohio’s rule amendments parallel the 2015 amendments to the Federal… MORE

Justice We Can Believe In Requires Racial Justice

News and Updates
Justified outrage over the killings of George Floyd and other Black Americans is prompting overdue efforts to address police brutality and other law enforcement practices impacting communities of color. But the legacy of racism that blights our… MORE

IAALS Announces Scott Bales to Step Down, Launches Nationwide Search for Successor

News and Updates
IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System at the University of Denver, announced today that Scott Bales, its Executive Director, will step down effective July 31, 2020. Bales said he has been honored to lead IAALS over… MORE

A Rallying Cry for Comments on Utah Regulatory Innovation Efforts

News and Updates
Momentum for regulatory reform continues to build this summer, as states across the country move forward with groundbreaking experiments to expand the delivery of legal services—with the potential to make them more accessible and affordable for all… MORE

California Closing the Justice Gap Working Group Should Include More Consumer and Public Voices

News and Updates
In May 2020, the California State Bar Board of Trustees authorized the formation of the Closing the Justice Gap (CTJG) Working Group to explore further the recommendations of the Task Force on Access Through Innovation of Legal Services (ATILS). The… MORE

Bill Henderson Urges State Supreme Courts to Lead the Way on Regulatory Reform

News and Updates
On June 25, IAALS and the University of Denver Sturm College of Law co-hosted a virtual discussion with William Henderson, Professor of Law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law and ABA Journal Legal Rebel. As part of our Future of Legal… MORE

Do Not Delay: Courts Should Continue Reform Work During COVID-19

News and Updates
In early June 2020, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti announced that there will be an eight-month delay in implementing reforms to Canada’s Divorce Act due to COVID-19. The pandemic “has shut down the courts and… MORE