Arkansas Access to Justice Commission

About the Commission

The Arkansas Access to Justice Commission serves as Arkansas’s strategic architect for civil legal access. We work to identify and dismantle the barriers that prevent Arkansans from protecting their legal rights in civil matters. Rather than providing direct legal services, we focus on systemic improvements: studying how people navigate our civil justice system, identifying where they struggle, and developing practical solutions that make courts more accessible and justice more attainable. We work closely with our sister organization, the Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation, which secures and distributes the funding needed to implement these solutions and sustain legal aid programs.

Our History

In 2003, the Arkansas Bar Association petitioned the Arkansas Supreme Court to create a commission dedicated to addressing the state’s growing justice gap. The Court established the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission in December 2003 with a clear mandate: ensure equal access to justice in civil cases for all Arkansans. For over two decades, we’ve worked to transform this mandate into meaningful change, building partnerships across the legal community and developing innovative programs that serve those who need legal help most.

The Arkansas Supreme Court charged the Commission with eight essential goals that guide everything we do:

Understanding the Problems
We develop an objective and accurate understanding of the barriers Arkansans face in our civil justice system through comprehensive legal needs assessments, court data analysis, and direct engagement with communities across the state.

Strategic Planning
We devise and implement strategic plans for statewide delivery of civil legal services, coordinating with legal aid providers, courts, and community organizations to ensure resources reach every corner of Arkansas.

Resource Allocation
We review and report on the efficient use of available resources, helping funders and providers maximize their impact and avoid duplication of services.

Public Education
We educate Arkansans about the importance of equal access to justice and the challenges many face in our civil courts through public awareness campaigns, community presentations, and educational materials.

Leadership Engagement
We encourage strong and consistent commitment to access to justice among state leaders, working with judges, legislators, and executive branch officials to prioritize civil legal aid.

Innovation
We suggest and implement innovations that increase access to the civil justice system, from courthouse kiosks and online legal clinics to simplified court forms and unbundled legal services.

Technical Support
We provide technical assistance and support to the legislature, courts, and government agencies working to improve access to justice, serving as a resource for best practices and proven solutions.

Sustainable Funding
We work to develop stable, long-term funding and resources for civil legal aid, supporting the Foundation’s fundraising efforts and advocating for increased public and private investment in access to justice.

These goals guide our comprehensive approach to expanding access to justice throughout Arkansas. They ensure we understand the challenges, develop effective solutions, and build the support needed to sustain our work.

Our Impact

Since 2003, the Commission has transformed how Arkansans access legal help:

Pro Bono Infrastructure: We’ve built systems that make it easier for attorneys to volunteer their time effectively, from limited-scope representation to specialized clinics.

Free Legal Answers: Our online platform connects low-income Arkansans with volunteer attorneys who answer civil legal questions remotely.

Courthouse Kiosks: We’ve installed self-help stations in courthouses and libraries statewide, providing legal forms, instructional videos, and resource guides where people need them most.

Language Access: We’ve expanded interpreter services and translated essential court documents to serve Arkansas’s diverse communities.

Simplified Court Procedures: We’ve worked with courts to streamline processes, create plain-language forms, and establish protocols that better serve people without attorneys.

Commission Leadership

The Commission brings together judicial, legal, and community leaders through a careful balance of appointments designed to represent Arkansas’s diverse perspectives on access to justice.

Members are appointed by:

This appointment structure ensures the Commission includes voices from urban and rural communities, corporate and public interest law, the judiciary and legislature, and both legal professionals and community advocates who witness the impact of legal barriers firsthand. Ex-officio members from Arkansas’s legal aid providers and law school clinics provide additional support and coordination.

Chair: Skye Martin
Vice Chair: Judge Carlton Jones
Secretary: Rachael Borné