Throughout the past year, IAALS has been at the forefront of advancing justice by broadening access to legal assistance, rethinking regulation, and redefining legal licensure. As we step into 2024, we remain dedicated to bringing about transformative change within the justice system.
It's time for our justice system to recognize and address imminent, high-impact threats. Just as the pandemic highlighted the need for vigilance and proactive measures, we must confront these looming challenges head-on to ensure access to justice.
While acknowledging the crucial role of our Constitution and its enduring significance in our nation, we can also advocate for the ongoing enhancement of our justice system to fully uphold the principles of the rule of law.
The Colorado Supreme Court recently released guidelines permitting virtual participation in trial court proceedings. While crucial, this is only the initial stride in securing a transformative change for the court, their users, and society.
This year, the American Bar Association is celebrating Law Day with the theme “Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration.” These sentiments are at the heart of IAALS—what we do, how we do it, and why this work is so critical.
IAALS' work as a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to improving the civil justice system through data-driven solutions has never been more critical than it is right now. I am proud of this organization and what we have accomplished this year—and I also know we have much work to do in 2023.
It was the founders’ vision that we establish a more perfect union, with justice first and foremost in achieving that goal. To do this, we must rebuild our justice system to ensure that people’s needs are realized in an accessible, fair, equitable, and accountable way.
This year, the ABA marks Law Day 2022 with the theme of "Toward a More Perfect Union: The Constitution in Times of Change." Today, we should reflect on the shortcomings of our justice system and worry about the threats to democracy and the rule of law. But we should also celebrate the strides that have been made and the promise ahead.
Each year on Constitution Day, all Americans should take the time to celebrate and reflect—celebrate, because the Constitution has served as the basic architecture for our system of government for over 200 years, and reflect, because its flaws and shortcomings have shaped our nation, too.