People with civil legal problems (ones that do not involve a crime) do not have a right to a free lawyer.  Sometimes people who cannot afford a lawyer have to handle their own legal case.

In response to this problem, the Tennessee Supreme Court made access to justice its number one priority.  The Court announced their Access to Justice Initiative in December 2008.

In April 2009, the Supreme Court formed the Access to Justice Commission under Supreme Court Rule 50. The Commission was asked to create a strategic plan to help people with civil legal problems get help.  The Commission submitted the plan to the Supreme Court in April 2010.  The Court adopted the plan.

Click here to read the 2010 Strategic Plan.

The members of the Access to Justice Commission are:: 

Chair
Margaret L. Behm
Nashville, TN

Vice Chair
George "Buck" T. Lewis, III
Memphis, TN

Douglas A. Blaze
Knoxville, TN

Kathryn Reed Edge
Nashville, TN

Francis S. Guess
Gallatin, TN

A. Gregory Ramos
Nashville, TN

D. Billye Sanders
Nashville, TN

Maura Abeln Smith
New York, NY

Dr. Frank Anthony Thomas
Memphis, TN

Bill Young
Nashville, TN

Justice Janice M. Holder serves as the Supreme Court Liaison. 

You can find more information on the ATJ Commission on the Administrative Office of the Courts website or by contacting Anne-Louise Wirthlin, Access to Justice Coordinator, at anne.louise.wirthlin@tncourts.gov or (615) 741-2687.