Chief Judge Wilson to address civil legal services needs in New York

September 12, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Chief Judge Rowan Wilson will lead a public hearing in Albany to address the unmet civil legal services needs in New York, focusing on solutions to close the state's justice gap. Brooklyn Eagle photo by Robert Abruzzese

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On Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson will preside over a public hearing aimed at addressing New York’s persistent justice gap and the unmet civil legal services needs across the state.

The hearing, scheduled to take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Court of Appeals Hall in Albany, will gather input from legal experts, advocates, and affected individuals to assess the resources necessary to improve access to civil justice for low-income and vulnerable communities.

Chief Judge Wilson will be joined by an esteemed panel that includes the four presiding justices of the Appellate Division — Hon. Dianne Renwick (1st Dept.), Hon. Hector LaSalle (2nd Dept.), Hon. Elizabeth A. Garry (3rd Dept.), and Hon. Gerald Whalen (4th Dept.) — as well as Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas and New York State Bar Association President Domenick Napoletano.

The hearing will focus on the barriers faced by low-income New Yorkers, particularly in areas such as housing, consumer debt and family law. Presenters will include legal scholars, heads of legal aid organizations, and clients who have directly benefited from legal services.

The findings from the hearing will contribute to a report by the New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice, which aims to propose solutions such as increased funding, technological innovations and volunteer programs to bridge the civil justice gap.

The event will be livestreamed for public viewing on the New York Courts website.