Dear Commissioners and friends of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission:
Happy May Day! According to Wikipedia, May Day is a European festival of ancient origins marking the beginning of summer, usually associated with spring traditions like maypoles and flower decorations. May 1st is also “Law Day!” Law Day was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958 as a national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law. In 1961, Congress passed a joint resolution further recognizing May 1st as Law Day.
The American Bar Association (ABA) defines Law Day as: “A national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law” and explains that “Law Day underscores how law and the legal process have contributed to the freedoms that all Americans share.” The language of the statute establishing May 1st as Law Day calls it “a special day of celebration by the American people in appreciation of their liberties and rededication to the ideals of equality and justice under law.” According to the ABA, the theme of this year’s Law Day is to “explore and renew our duties to one another under the Constitution and our democratic norms.” In addition to the ABA, many local law schools and bar associations are celebrating Law Day in various ways and I encourage you to take part in at least one of those celebrations.
Next full Commission meeting: May 19th from 3-4:30 pm!
The next meeting of the full Access to Justice Commission will be held IN PERSON at the Lowell Judicial Center, which is located at 370 Jackson Street, Lowell, Massachusetts. There is a parking garage next door as well as a limited amount of on-street parking out front. Please RSVP here by May 14th. I’m excited to report that the May meeting will feature remarks from the Honorable Heidi E. Brieger, Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Trial Court. Sheriece Perry, Director of Court Services and Law Libraries will also be joining us and giving a presentation on what’s new in the state’s court service centers and law libraries. And for those who are able to come early, the Lowell Court Service Center and Law Library will be available beginning at 2:30 to tour before the meeting. We’ll also have refreshments and a preview of some posters or panels that are being created to celebrate the achievements of the Commission on the occasion of its 20th Anniversary. These panels, which are being created thanks to the generous support of the Massachusetts Bar Foundation, will be a sort of “traveling exhibit” this year so watch out for them at other upcoming events over the next several weeks.
The ATJC’s 20th Anniversary
Speaking of the Commission’s 20th Anniversary, the 20th Anniversary Task Force led by Commissioners Lisa Goodheart, J.D. Smeallie, and Judge Julie Bernard (ret.), is also working diligently on ways to commemorate the occasion in addition to the traveling exhibit mentioned above. One thing the Task Force co-chairs are working on is creating a video featuring insights of many leaders of the Commission over its 20 year history. You can also expect to hear mentions of the Commission’s Anniversary at the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Annual Dinner on May 8th and the Boston Bar Association’s Law Day Celebration on June 11th. Hope to see you there!
The SJC is seeking nominations for the 2025 Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards.
Named for attorneys John Adams and John Quincy Adams, the Adams Awards honor Massachusetts lawyers, law students, law firms, and legal organizations that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to providing pro bono services for the benefit of individuals of limited means. Recipients may be honored for exceptional pro bono service during the year prior to the award ceremony or over a longer period, including service performed across multiple pro bono cases or activities. Service worthy of an Adams Award may include, but is not limited to:
- The creation of or participation in an activity or pro bono program that expands legal services to underserved segments of the population or fills a previously unmet need;
- Significant work on litigation, the outcome of which benefits persons of limited means; or
- Significant work on the adoption of legislation or policies that benefit individuals of limited means.
- The Committee encourages the submission of nominations that reflect the diversity of the Commonwealth’s residents.
More information about award criteria and nomination guidelines can be found on the Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards webpage. The deadline for nominations is Monday, June 30, 2025.
What We’re Reading
Or in this case, what we’re listening to! Check out Episode 74 of LSC’s Talk Justice Podcast featuring Frontline Justice Founding CEO and Executive Director Nikole Nelson and Legal Services Corporation (LSC) President Ron Flagg. Frontline Justice describes “community justice workers” as (non-lawyer) frontline helpers like shelter volunteers, faith leaders, community health workers, and others who are trained to give their community critical legal help on every day issues that lawyers often aren’t providing. In the podcast, Nelson and Flagg discuss the role community justice workers can play in expanding access to legal services. Nelson, who is also the former Executive Director of Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC), further explains Alaska’s success with the initiative and discusses her vision for bringing justice workers to more communities.
Warm regards,
Deb