The University of New Mexico and Arizona State University held the Equal Justice Colloquium on November 17, 2000 in Albuquerque. The Colloquium was a great success. Approximately 60 people attended, including law professors from both schools, judges from both states, equal justice folks from both states, non-lawyers from community organizations and law students. The conference was held at a community center near the law school.

New Mexico’s Dean welcomed the participants. Participants in the opening plenary included 2 law professors (one from each school), a federal district court judge and a non-lawyer director of a community organization. They were asked to envision what equal access to justice would look like in an ideal world. The small groups in the morning were asked to answer questions about what the judiciary, service providers and private attorneys could do with law schools to increase access to justice, as well as what law school libraries, technology in law schools and students organizations could do to increase access to justice.

Jose Martinez, the Director of UNM’s clinic was the luncheon speaker. The afternoon break-out groups were asked to produce concrete recommendations for an action plan. The groups then reported on the recommendations. Among the recommendations were that a report be prepared by January 15, 2001 and that there be continued communication between the participants.

The schools decided not to do a public invitation, everyone in attendance was there by invitation. I think the turn-out was good given the size of the schools and states and was impressed by the wide variety of people.

For further information, you may contact one of the local planners listed below:

Alfred Dennis Mathewson
University of New Mexico School of Law
1117 Stanford Drive N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87131-1431
(505) 277-5820
mathewson@law.unm.edu

Antoinette Sedillo Lopez
University of New Mexico School of Law
1117 Stanford Drive, N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87131-1431
(505) 277-5265
lopez@law.unm.edu

Hannah Arterian
Arizona State University College of Law
Box 877906
Tempe, AZ 85287-7906
(480) 965-6188
hannah.arterian@asu.edu