Page 30 - Impact: Collected Essays on Expanding Access to Justice

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In the Bronx, CASA is leading a campaign to ensure that these recommendations are implemented, and we’ve had some success . In the year after the report was released we saw three of our recommendations implemented: a bilingual PowerPoint plays in every courtroom explaining tenants’ rights and basic court procedures; all court personnel are required to wear visible identification so that tenants know when they are talking to someone who works for the court and when they aren’t (like a landlord attorney); and when judges take the bench every morning, they give an overview of what to expect during the day and review some basic rights, as well as where tenants can go for more in-depth help . The changes the court implemented as a result of our campaign weren’t just implemented in the Bronx, but in all of the housing courts throughout the city .
We are proud of this progress and believe that these recommendations, implemented alongside other administrative changes that the court can make as outlined in our report, will go a long way towards changing unrepresented tenants’ experiences in housing court and reducing evictions . However, the court cannot and should not shoulder the responsibility of the incredible lack of equity in the court system .
One of our main recommendations, passing a law making it a right for tenants to have an attorney in housing court, is at the core of changing the nature of what housing court is and could be . Currently, housing court is the center of displacement for tenants . It could be the place where tenants go to find justice . That’s what housing court reform and Right to Counsel are all about .
right to Counsel NYC Coalition
In March of 2014, we were excited to learn that New York City Councilmember Mark Levine was working on introducing Intro 214, a piece of local legislation that would make the city responsible to make it a right for tenants to have an attorney in Housing Court . Because the court system in New York City is part of the state court system, we had always thought that any law changing the nature of how the court worked, would have to be done on the state level . Pro-tenant legislation has been almost impossible to pass in New York State for the last 30 years . The prospect of a city council bill meant we might actually win . Intro 214 does not challenge the power of the state; instead it places the obligation on the city to provide counsel . If the city fails to do so, a tenant has the right to sue the city .
As we rallied to support this important and critical bill, we recognized the need to form a new coalition, independent of the legislature, that would build a citywide movement not for increased funding for representation, but for New York City to be the first city in the nation to establish a RIGHT to counsel for tenants in housing court . We formed a coalition rooted in principles of equity, humanity, diversity and justice . We are working to develop and champion a new legal services model that can be implemented when a comprehensive bill passes . We are working towards a bill that will be fully funded and that will do justice to those facing eviction in housing court so that tenants have qualified, dedicated and experienced housing attorneys who can devote the time they need to their cases .
The Right to Counsel NYC Coalition is made up of advocates, tenants, academics and legal services providers in support of a Right to Counsel for low-income tenants who face eviction in
Impact: Collected Essays on Expanding Access to Justice