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Access To Justice Forums Invite Feedback On Montana's Court System

Court news

Kalispell will be the launching point for a series of public forums on helping people use Montana’s court system. The Montana Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission is looking for help assessing what is and isn’t working as the state’s judicial caseload continues to grow at a fast clip.

Supreme Court Justice Beth Baker says there’s been a big increase in people coming to Montana’s courts without a lawyer.

A series of regional public discussions about the successes and challenges in securing equal access to the civil legal system for all Montanans and how those issues impact our communities.
A series of regional public discussions about the successes and challenges in securing equal access to the civil legal system for all Montanans and how those issues impact our communities.

"What we’ve learned from our judges and court staff is that when people do need a lawyer’s help, many of them aren’t able to get it and don’t really even know where to go."

The commission is asking people and organizations with a stake in Montana’s courts to come to their public forums to talk about solutions. The first is in Kalispell Wednesday, Oct. 21. The event happens at Flathead Valley Community College between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m.

Access to Justice Forum Series dates:

  • Kalispell - Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015
  • Great Falls - Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015
  • Billings - Wednesday, March 16, 2016
  • Missoula - Wednesday, April 13, 2016
  • Bozeman - Wednesday, May 18, 2016
  • Butte - Wednesday, September 21, 2016
  • Helena - Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Eric Whitney is NPR's Mountain West/Great Plains Bureau Chief, and was the former news director for Montana Public Radio.
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