Opinion
ADKT 394.
June 15, 2006.
Before: NANCY A. BECKER, J., MARK GIBBONS, J., JAMES W. HARDESTY, J., A. WILLIAM MAUPIN, J., MICHAEL L. DOUGLAS, J. and RON D. PARRAGUIRRE, J.
ORDER CREATING THE NEVADA SUPREME COURT ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION AND ADOPTING RULE 15 OF THE SUPREME COURT RULES
WHEREAS, the Honorable Robert E. Rose, Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court, and the Honorable Nancy A. Becker, Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court, have petitioned this court on its administrative docket to adopt a rule creating the Nevada Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice; and
WHEREAS, this court agrees with the petition's allegations regarding the importance of access to justice in a democratic society; the lack of sufficient access to justice for thousands of Nevada citizens of limited means despite the efforts of numerous public and private organizations, attorneys, and other individuals; the critical need for statewide strategic planning and coordination of efforts to expand services and improve access to justice; and the effectiveness of supreme court commissions on access to justice created in other jurisdictions to respond to similar challenges; and
WHEREAS, it therefore appears to this court that amendment of the Supreme Court Rules is warranted to establish a permanent Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice; accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that new Rule 15 of the Supreme Court Rules shall be adopted and shall read as set forth in Exhibit A.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this new rule shall be effective immediately. The clerk of this court shall cause a notice of entry of this order to be published in the official publication of the State Bar of Nevada. Publication of this order shall be accomplished by the clerk disseminating copies of this order to all subscribers of the advance sheets of the Nevada Reports and all persons and agencies listed in NRS 2.345, and to the executive director of the State Bar of Nevada. The certificate of the clerk of this court as to the accomplishment of the above-described publication of notice of entry and dissemination of this order shall be conclusive evidence of the adoption and publication of the foregoing rule amendment.
EXHIBIT A NEW RULE 15 OF THE SUPREME COURT RULES
Rule 15. Commission on Access to Justice. 1. Creation, purpose. The supreme court shall appoint a commission on access to justice. The commission shall: (a) Assess current and future needs for civil legal services for persons of limited means in Nevada. (b) Develop statewide policies designed to support and improve the delivery of legal services. (c) Improve self-help services and opportunities for proper person litigants and increase pro bono activities. (d) Develop programs to increase public awareness of the impact that limited access to justice has on other government services and on society. (e) Investigate the availability of and pursue increased public and private financing to support legal services organizations and other efforts to provide legal services to persons of limited means. (f) Recommend legislation or rules affecting access to justice to the supreme court. 2. Composition. The access to justice commission shall be composed of the chief justice of the supreme court or the chief justice's designate and the following members, to be appointed by the supreme court to four-year terms: (a) One district judge each from the Second and the Eighth Judicial District Courts. At least one of those judges must be assigned to the family division of the district court. (b) One additional district judge to be selected from the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, or Ninth Judicial District Courts. (c) One limited jurisdiction judge, who shall serve as liaison to the Nevada Judges Association. (d) One representative designated by the Nevada Attorney General. (e) One representative each from the City of Las Vegas Senior Citizens Law Project, Clark County Legal Services/Pro Bono Project, the Eighth Judicial District Pro Bono Foundation, Nevada Legal Services, Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevadans/Domestic Violence Project, the Washoe Access to Justice Foundation, the Washoe County Senior Law Project, and Washoe Legal Services/Pro Bono Project. (f) One representative each from the Clark County Bar Association, the State Bar of Nevada, and the Washoe County Bar Association. (g) One representative from the clinical program at the William S. Boyd School of Law of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. (h) Two persons who are not members of the legal profession. The commission may appoint nonvoting members, including, but not limited to, judges and representatives from other direct service providers, county bar associations, and neighborhood pro bono projects. 3. Meetings. The commission shall meet at least semi-annually and shall have additional meetings, as the commission deems appropriate. The commission may form separate subcommittees to address specific issues.