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for civil legal aid funding and the positive impact civil legal aid provides our communities. In
addition, a $1,000,000 request was submitted in the annual NGO application form. Louisiana
Appleseed continues to coordinate lobbying efforts for this civil legal aid legislative initiative.
As part of these efforts a lunch was held on Wednesday, April 7th for the House Appropriations
Committee. In addition, Civil Legal Aid Day has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 11th this
year.

SRL Committee hosts Strategic Planning Session, identifying and prioritizing goals for
2021-2022.
Judge Jeffrey Cashe, Chair
The SRL Committee hosted a Planning Session in February, during which Committee
members reviewed and discussed relevant components of the ATJ Commission’s Strategic
Plan and JFA Implementation Plan. Using a SWOT analysis, the Committee identified and
prioritized three activities: pursue a strategy for including an annual mandatory access to
justice training for judges and court staff; increase the availability of civil legal access points
in civil legal deserts; and create additional plan language forms and instructions. The
Committee continues to work with the ATJ Commission’s Technology Committee and the
Supreme Court’s Technology Commission on various initiatives where technology affects
SRLs. The Committee also continues working on developing guides and resources to help
address remote access to courts and coordinating SRL Summits.

Building Bridges Committee Hosts CLE on Addressing Civil Legal Needs for People
Formerly Incarcerated
Adrienne Wheeler, Chair
The Building Bridges Committee is currently planning a free CLE on April 30th to increase
awareness of Second Chance month and educate attorneys on how they can help reduce
collateral consequences of incarceration by providing assistance in certain legal matters, such
as accessing driver’s licenses and managing child support arrearages and obligations during
and after incarceration. The CLE coincides with the reopening of the Reentry Clinic operated
by First 72+, Justice and Accountability Center of Louisiana, and Southeast Louisiana Legal
Services, in which volunteer attorneys provide advice and counsel on civil legal issues
including child support modifications, consumer debt, collections, driver's license
reinstatements, and tax liabilities. In the coming year, the Committee plans to develop an
educational pamphlet that outlines highest priority legal needs and resources available to
address those needs and will continue to work with the Louisiana Prisoner Reentry Initiative’s
Legal Subcommittee on issues related to detainers.

Language Access Committee creates interpreter services brochure in 6 languages and
assists the Supreme Court’s Office of Language Access with revisions to court rules for
requesting interpreters.
Professor Luz Molina, Chair
The Language Access Committee continues to work with the Supreme Court’s Office of
Language Access (OLA) and its Stakeholder Committee on the implementation phase of the
statewide Language Access Plan, which was approved by the Louisiana Supreme Court. This
Committee drafted a brochure for requesting interpreter services from the court, which is being
provided to courthouses in 6 languages--English, Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Arabic, and
Mandarin. The Language Access Committee is working with direct service providers to
compile the vital documents used in each court in various parishes, which the OLA will