New forms will improve access to justice for millions of Michiganders
For the first time since 1979, the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) is launching a major redesign of court forms that will improve access to justice by aiding millions of Michigan court users as they navigate civil legal matters, such as parenting time and custody and landlord/tenant matters. The first set of forms released today are for small claims cases, since those matters do not involve attorneys. The goal of the project has been to create legally accurate, understandable, accessible and user-friendly forms that meet the needs of the public and the courts.
“The cases might be small, but the changes are big. These and other forms are how millions of Michiganders interact with courts statewide,” said Michigan Supreme Court (MSC) Chief Justice Megan K. Cavanagh. “Simpler, streamlined forms help to level the playing field, providing a path to their day in court. Redesigned forms help to make a fair and efficient justice system more accessible to everyone.
Justice Brian K. Zahra chairs the Justice for All Commission (JFAC), which made the initial recommendation to review and revise court forms as a means of increasing access and improving the court experience for all.
“I was a trial court judge in Michigan’s largest circuit court, and I saw moms and dads and business owners and veterans and others in my courtroom struggle to represent themselves regarding life-changing issues in a system not designed for them,” he said. “Today, we are talking about much more than a set of new forms; we are talking about a whole new review process that goes beyond legal sufficiency to a broader, more inclusive feedback model that solicits input from the people who use the forms, ranging from litigants to court staff to judges.”
Under its primary goal of creating 100 percent access to the civil justice system in Michigan, the JFAC has taken a comprehensive approach to civil justice reform by addressing gaps and obstacles, such as court forms that were often difficult to understand and complete. To that end, the JFAC convened a Forms Committee and Forms Process Subcommittee that collectively represent decades of experience working with court forms, court processes, self-represented litigants, attorneys, and involvement in the current forms process. The JFAC also enlisted key partner Public Policy Lab to oversee the redesign and extensive user testing of the new forms, while the SCAO forms office managed the overall project.
Going forward, form redesigns will include requests for accommodations, requests for interpreters, fee waivers, and landlord-tenant matters, among others.
“The cases might be small, but the changes are big. These and other forms are how millions of Michiganders interact with courts statewide,” said Michigan Supreme Court (MSC) Chief Justice Megan K. Cavanagh. “Simpler, streamlined forms help to level the playing field, providing a path to their day in court. Redesigned forms help to make a fair and efficient justice system more accessible to everyone.
Justice Brian K. Zahra chairs the Justice for All Commission (JFAC), which made the initial recommendation to review and revise court forms as a means of increasing access and improving the court experience for all.
“I was a trial court judge in Michigan’s largest circuit court, and I saw moms and dads and business owners and veterans and others in my courtroom struggle to represent themselves regarding life-changing issues in a system not designed for them,” he said. “Today, we are talking about much more than a set of new forms; we are talking about a whole new review process that goes beyond legal sufficiency to a broader, more inclusive feedback model that solicits input from the people who use the forms, ranging from litigants to court staff to judges.”
Under its primary goal of creating 100 percent access to the civil justice system in Michigan, the JFAC has taken a comprehensive approach to civil justice reform by addressing gaps and obstacles, such as court forms that were often difficult to understand and complete. To that end, the JFAC convened a Forms Committee and Forms Process Subcommittee that collectively represent decades of experience working with court forms, court processes, self-represented litigants, attorneys, and involvement in the current forms process. The JFAC also enlisted key partner Public Policy Lab to oversee the redesign and extensive user testing of the new forms, while the SCAO forms office managed the overall project.
Going forward, form redesigns will include requests for accommodations, requests for interpreters, fee waivers, and landlord-tenant matters, among others.
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