[Missouri-l] FW: [leadership] Fw: News Advisory: ABA to Address Equal Access to Justice for the Disabled and Elderly

Wed May 13 09:01:25 CDT 2009

--- On Tue, 5/12/09, American Bar Association <abanews at abanet.org> wrote:

From: American Bar Association <abanews at abanet.org>
Subject: News Advisory: ABA to Address Equal Access to Justice for the
Disabled and Elderly
To: cclvi at yahoo.com
Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2009, 5:20 PM

Release:          Immediate

Contact:            Deborah Weixl
Phone:              312/988-6126
E-Mail:              weixld at staff.abanet.org
Online:              www.abanet.org

MEDIA ADVISORY

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION PROGRAM TO ADDRESS ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO JUSTICE
FOR THE DISABLED AND ELDERLY

New technology, innovative room design, service animals, and courtroom
improvements for discussion at free program

CHICAGO, May 12, 2009 – Many are denied equal access to justice because
courthouses around the country lack basic accommodations for the elderly and
disabled, such as ramps, elevators, dedicated parking, allowances for
service animals, and adequate acoustics and lighting. Improving access to
the justice system is the focus of a one-day public service program,
“Providing Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly with Equal Access to
Justice,” sponsored by the Diversity in the Profession and Animal Law
Committees of the ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section .  The program
will be held May 18 at Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport , Fla.

National experts, including prosecutors, defense lawyers, judges, advocates
for the elderly and the disabled, and those knowledgeable in the growing
area of animal law, will highlight innovative approaches to ensuring that
all participants have full access to the justice system.  Speakers will
address how the lack of accessibility erodes the viability of the trial
system and discuss the budgetary and planning challenges facing decision
makers in making accommodations.

The program takes place at Stetson’s William R. Eleazer Courtroom,
considered a courthouse model of the future, utilizing new technology to
accommodate the needs of elderly and disabled citizens. 

Programs include:

Providing a Reasonable Accommodation to the Courthouse and in the Courtroom
Selecting a Jury
Service and Emotional Support Animals as a Reasonable Accommodation
Diversity Initiatives
Promoting Better Courthouse and Courthouse Access
The Use of Technology to Improve Courtroom Access: Demonstration of the
William R. Eleazer Courtroom
Issues Related to Access to Justice Outside the Courtroom

Nationally-known speakers include Matthew Dietz of Miami; Rebecca Morgan,
faculty chair in elder law, Stetson University College of Law; Chief
Assistant Statewide Prosecutor George Richards, Florida Office of Statewide
Prosecution; Judge Rosalyn Richter, appellate division, First Department,
New York State Court System; Marygrace Schaeffer, vice president,
DecisionQuest; Page Ulrey, senior deputy prosecuting attorney, Courthouse
Dog Program, King County Prosecutor’s Office, Seattle; and architect Charles
Canderday, St. Petersburg, Fla.  

For a complete listing of programs and speakers go to
http://www.abanet.org/tips/market/09DisabilityProgramAgenda.pdf.

Founded in 2004, the TIPS Animal Law Committee is the first national
bar-sponsored group dedicated to furthering understanding of this growing
and multi-disciplinary practice of law.  For more information visit the
committee’s Web site at www.abanet.org/tips/animal. The Committee on
Diversity in the Profession is committed to diversity by promoting equal
participation of minorities and women in the legal profession, and in TIPS. 
More information can be found at http://www.abanet.org/tips/wami/home.html.

The ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section is the only national
professional group to bring together plaintiffs’ lawyers, defense lawyers
and insurance and corporate counsel for the exchange of information and
ideas. The section has more than 32,000 members and 34 general committees
that focus on substantive and procedural matters in areas including aviation
and space law, fidelity and surety law, medical malpractice, transportation
law and others. 

Note to Editors: Reporters are welcome to cover the meeting for free. To
register for the meeting contact Debbie Weixl, ABA Division for Media
Relations and Communication Services at 312/988-6126 or
weixld at staff.abanet.org.  On site, a member of the TIPS staff will assist
reporters with admittance.

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