Wyoming Access to Justice Commission to Host Public Hearings
Cheyenne, WY
The Wyoming Access to Justice Commission's mission is to promote fair and equal access to civil justice in Wyoming. In order to better understand the barriers to the justice system that people face, the Commission wants to collect first-hand statements about those challenges so that we can use them to craft a high-quality legal aid system in Wyoming.
The ATJ Commission plans to hold public hearings around the state in order to raise public awareness about the serious issue of unmet civil legal needs among low-to-moderate income folks, and to gather personal stories from them. The first meeting will be in Cheyenne on July 27th from 6-8PM at the Wyoming Supreme Court, 2301 Capitol Avenue.
Often times, civil legal issues have a disproportionate effect on women and children, and that is one way WWF can play a vital role in our efforts. The ATJ Commission would like to try to reach out to the low-to-moderate income community, and extend an invitation to them to share their stories and participate in the public hearings.
If you have input regarding unmet civil (non-criminal) legal issues; or have needed help with a civil legal issue in Wyoming, please let the ATJ know what happened.
Comments should include your contact information (name, phone number, address, email address) and can be sent to:
Leigh Anne Manlove
lmanlo@state.wy.us
200 West 24th St, Rm 124
Cheyenne, WY 82002
To undrestand the importance and impact that unment civil issues has on the women of Wyoming please read the law review article below written by Dona Playton and Stacey Obrecht
HIGH TIMES IN WYOMING: REFLECTING THE STATE'S VALUES BY ELIMINATING BARRIERS AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN THE EQUALITY STATE Dona Playton, Stacey L. Obrecht [FNa1]7 WYLR 295
*314 When considering funding projects or programs in the state, the legislature must look beyond basic infrastructure and toward promotion of self-sufficiency for Wyoming's ever-present low-income population.
Women's experiences of economic inequality and dependency make them less able to pay for civil legal aid services at a time when they have a heightened need of such representation. Failure of the substantive law to take account of women's experiences has further entrenched their disadvantage in the provision of civil legal aid services. [FN134]
By funding civil legal assistance for low-income and vulnerable populations, many Wyoming residents will be given opportunities to overcome several of the barriers which have kept them from achieving some level of economic independence. For instance, the division of assets and the determination of child support upon divorce usually result in disparity in the standard of living of the custodial households. [FN135] A study found that for children whose fathers leave, family income can drop by about twenty-three percent. [FN136] Additionally, research shows that child support reduces child poverty. [FN137] Thus, receiving competent legal representation in a child support or divorce case may reduce income inequality by redistributing assets and income from non-custodial parents to custodial parents. Clear initiatives are required to address the legal needs of low-income people.
Despite some recent improvements in programs providing civil legal assistance to low-income people in Wyoming, there are still far too many who are forced to interpret and resolve complex legal matters with little or no competent legal assistance. For people suffering from abuse or attempting the journey from victim to survivor, legal services are essential.
*315 Legal services are the most expensive support service, the service to which the fewest women have access, and, according to our research, the only service that decreases the likelihood women will be battered. Since legal services help women achieve economic power and self-sufficiency, they are a good place to spend public money. [FN138]
Lack of civil legal assistance to low-income people, especially women, remains an obstacle to economic equality. [FN139] A study on Canada's civil legal assistance for low-income women found that "[w]omen wishing to receive subsidized legal services for family law matters have encountered significant difficulties accessing lawyers willing to act on their behalf, even in urgent cases." [FN140] Women in Wyoming also frequently experience difficulty locating lawyers who are prepared to advocate on their behalf. "Lawyers who can provide effective and sensitive representation to abused women are few in number, especially in rural regions. Individuals with disabilities are sometimes labeled 'difficult to work with' and, as a result, have similar difficulties finding lawyers sensitive to their experiences and prepared to represent them." [FN141] Now is the time for the state to invest in civil legal representation for the poor and vulnerable. The state should advocate on behalf of a law reform agenda that seeks to influence the political and legislative attitudes responsible for poverty. [FN142]
The solution to the inadequate resources allocated to civil legal aid services lies in educating politicians and legal aid programmers about the significant role the law plays in resolving family law matters. The availability of competent legal services for those who could not otherwise afford it promotes income equality and encourages self-sufficiency, making funding for such services a wise investment in Wyoming's future.
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