Resolution: In Support of Process Simplification (CCJ/COSCA 2021)

In July 2021, the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators approved Resolution 3 In Support of Process Simplification. Acknowledging the rise in self-represented litigants in the 21st century, in this resolution, CCJ/COSCA recognized the need to simplify legal processes and systems so that all people (including SRL) can navigate the procedures, forms, and interactions with clerks and judges without legal assistance. Resolution 3 resolved:

• Courts should create or modify court rules and should work with other branches of government to amend or create a new statutory language with the goal of creating simplified procedures and revamping existing procedures that are onerous, inefficient, or confusing to SRL's, court staff, judges, or the private bar. 
• The National Center for State Courts should develop a process simplification toolkit to identify lessons learned from process simplification reforms and lessons learned from across the country.

The full resolution is attached.