Access to Justice, Civil Right to Counsel, and the Role of the Judge

It is hardly noteworthy to observe that judges play a crucial role in our adversary system, both inside and outside the courtroom. Yet, the past two decades have seen increased attention to the challenges facing the courts with the flood of unrepresented litigants in civil cases. The challenges impact the roles of each actor within the court system, including the judge. It should go without saying that the reality also creates immense challenges for the litigants themselves.