"Seven million Californians cannot access the courts without significant language assistance and cannot effectively participate in court proceedings without a qualified interpreter," Jones noted. "Regrettably, language interpretation is essentially unavailable in civil courts. For Californians who need language assistance, the prospect of navigating the legal system is daunting – especially for the growing number of people in our family courts and other cases who have no choice but to appear in court without an attorney. And the court system itself may suffer if it appears unfair and unbalanced because parties cannot meaningfully participate in court proceedings, and thereby lose legal rights, child custody, property, livelihood or shelter," Jones added. "Judges, too, are naturally gravely concerned that court orders may be based on incomplete or erroneous information, and that parties cannot understand and therefore comply with court orders," Jones said.

Jones also noted that recent studies have shown that there is an overwhelming "justice-gap" between the legal needs of low-income people and the legal help that they receive. The magnitude of the need is estimated to be at least $350 million, leaving legal aid providers able to meet only a fraction of the demand for help. According to Jones, California continues to lag far behind other industrial states in total funding of legal services for the poor, and the figures are sobering. At least 80 percent of the civil legal needs of low-income people are not being met, while California provides less than $23.00 of legal services per poor person on average, and in some regions much lower. Jones stated, "A lack of representation not only disadvantages people with legal problems, it also burdens the justice system itself and impairs the administration of justice."

In support of the bills, California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald M. George, stated, "I am pleased that Assembly Member Jones continues to make access to justice issues a central theme in his legislative priorities. Without sufficient self-help services or interpreters, litigants simply cannot fully participate in our justice system. Along with Assembly Member Jones, I believe we also need creative approaches to increase funding for legal representation for low-income Californians. We are committed to working with Assembly Member Jones to put a new policy in place to meet the critical need for self-help services and interpreters in civil cases, and to secure the necessary additional resources to provide all Californians fair and equal access to justice."

California State Bar President James Heiting also endorsed the Jones legislation, stating, "The State Bar is deeply committed to ensuring that all Californians have equal access to the justice system -- access that is not hampered by a lack of financial resources or the inability to speak or understand English. We are pleased that Assembly Member Jones is working hard to address these issues. It is clear that we are committed to the same goals and we will work closely with him to meet those goals."

Assembly Member Jones, who Chairs the Assembly Judiciary Committee, was joined by Assembly Member Nakanishi (R-Lodi) who is a co-author of the interpreter bill, legal services and community advocates and others.

The event is scheduled to be broadcast on the Cal Channel and may also be webcast at cachannel.com/webcast.htm.

For More information, please contact:

Kevin G. Baker, Counsel, Assembly Judiciary Committee
(916) 319-2334. Kevin.Baker@asm.ca.gov