Connecticut Courts Rank Highest for Access
By Dave Collins
November 17, 2014 The Ledger Independent - HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut's court system scored highest among state judiciaries in serving poor, disabled and other disadvantaged members of the public, while Oklahoma's overall score is the lowest in the country, according new rankings.
Connecticut led all states with a score of 73.4 out of 100 and was followed by Hawaii, Minnesota, New York and Delaware, respectively. Local courts in Washington, D.C., had the highest overall score at 80.9.
At the bottom was Oklahoma at 23.7, followed by Kentucky, Illinois, South Dakota and Indiana.
The "Justice Index" rankings, compiled by the nonprofit National Center for Access to Justice, are based on how states serve people with disabilities and limited English proficiency, how much free legal help is available and how states help increasing numbers of people representing themselves in court, among other issues.
Several major law firms led the research with help from law students at the University of Pennsylvania and the Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University in New York City, where the center is based.
"Across the country, there are millions of people who don't have legal representation and face other barriers in their abilities to protect their interests and enforce their rights," said David Udell, the center's executive director. "Our Justice Index is our online resource in identifying best practices ... ensuring that people do have access to the justice system."