The Nebraska Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission has developed its first comprehensive strategic plan to guide the work of the Commission and standing committees for the next five years.

The plan has been several years in the making, and the foundational work began long before the commission existed. Co-chair of the Access to Justice Commission, Justice Stephanie Stacy said, “We want to acknowledge the transformative work of the many judges, court and probation staff, legal professionals, and community partners who volunteered on committees over the years and whose innovative ideas and commitment to the justice system have led to this ambitious and collaborative strategic plan.”

The strategic plan identifies five overarching strategic principles:

• All court users should have access to understandable legal information and resources so they can navigate the court system efficiently and effectively;
• All court users should have access to legal representation and advice;
• All court users should have their cases resolved fairly and efficiently;
• All court users should have equal access to court services, enjoy full participation in the judicial process, and be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect; and,
• The Access to Justice Commission should collaborate with court users, court administration, and justice stakeholders to engage and educate the public about the courts, and to improve the collection of reliable data to support evidence-based recommendations.