In Re Arkansas Access to Justice Month and the Arkansas Pro Bono Appeals Pilot Program
This text of 2023 Ark. 136 (In Re Arkansas Access to Justice Month and the Arkansas Pro Bono Appeals Pilot Program) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Opinion
Cite as 2023 Ark. 136 SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS
Opinion Delivered: October 5, 2023 IN RE ARKANSAS ACCESS TO JUSTICE MONTH AND THE ARKANSAS PRO BONO APPEALS PILOT PROGRAM
PER CURIAM
As officers of the court, Arkansas attorneys bear a professional responsibility, under
Rule 6.1 of the Arkansas Rules of Professional Conduct, to provide free legal services to
persons of limited means or organizations that serve persons of limited means and to
voluntarily contribute financial support to organizations that provide legal services to persons
of limited means. This commitment to public service represents one of the noblest attributes
of the legal profession.
We join the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission in designating October as Access
to Justice Month to recognize the valuable contributions made by legal aid and pro bono
attorneys throughout the year and to encourage pro bono participation to address the legal
needs of low-income Arkansans.
The Court commends the many Arkansas attorneys who serve their profession, their
communities, and their state by donating thousands of hours of pro bono services. The
Court encourages all attorneys to abide by both the letter and the spirit of Rule 6.1 through
pro bono service and financial support. Consistent with Rule 3.7(B) of the Arkansas Code of Judicial Conduct, the Court also encourages all judges to advocate for pro bono service
by attorneys, to participate in events that honor attorneys who provide pro bono service, to
write and speak in favor of pro bono service, and to recruit attorneys to provide pro bono
service.
As part of the Court’s effort to encourage pro bono service, we announced last spring
the creation of the Arkansas Pro Bono Appeals Pilot Program for the purpose of providing
low-income appellate litigants with pro bono advice and counsel. In re Creation of the
Arkansas Pro Bono Appeals Pilot Program, 2023 Ark. 110 (per curiam). At that time, we sought
volunteer attorneys and noted that we anticipated announcing additional information about
the program once it became operational. Today, the court is pleased to announce that the
program is operational. Litigants seeking pro bono appellate assistance can start the
application process by contacting the Center for Arkansas Legal Services (CALS) and Legal
Aid (Legal Aid) of Arkansas at 1-800-952-9243. Upon receipt of a referral from CALS or
Legal Aid, we ask volunteer attorneys to, at a minimum, consult with the prospective client
about the appeal. The extent of any further assistance or representation pursuant to a referral
is a matter between the attorney and the prospective client.
Attorneys who wish to participate or who have questions about the program should
email the Arkansas Supreme Court Clerk at probonoappeals@arcourts.gov. We again thank
everyone willing to assist in this effort to extend access to appellate justice to our fellow
Arkansans who are without the resources to hire appellate counsel.
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