California Supreme Court Directs State Bar to Collect Public Comment on a Proposed Community Justice Worker Program

The California Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the State Bar of California to circulate for public comment a proposed rule of court that, if adopted, would help address access to justice issues by establishing a new community justice worker program in the state.

The community justice worker program would allow trained nonlawyers—working alongside and under the supervision of approved legal aid organization lawyers—to offer limited legal services to clients of these legal aid organizations.

Programs similar to the proposed community justice worker program are currently in effect in Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Hawaii, Illinois, South Carolina, and Texas.

Court Approves New Rule Governing Court’s Advisory Committee on the Code of Judicial Ethics

Following a period of public comment, the court also approved new rule 9.81 of the California Rules of Court, which will govern the composition, duties, and procedures for the Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on the Code of Judicial Ethics. The committee considers and offers the court recommendations regarding possible amendments to the California Code of Judicial Ethics and its commentary.

The new rule will take effect on August 1. Later this summer, the court will make appointments to the committee under the new rule.