New committee will study court access issues

New York state court officials have created a new advisory panel to develop a plan to improve access to the courts for everybody, including those with visual, hearing, communication, mobility, cognitive and other disabilities.

The Advisory Committee on Access for People with Disabilities includes judges, clerks and administrators, as well as representatives from legal services providers, law firms and advocacy groups.

The committee will be led by Rosalyn H. Richter, an associate justice in the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court, First Department.

The panel will examine issues such as procedures for requesting accommodations; the availability of sign language interpreters, the quality of remote video interpreting services for the deaf and hard of hearing; the navigability for those with visual and other disabilities of online court programs and services; and barriers faced by jurors who have a disability.

The Committee will submit recommendations to Chief Judge Janet DiFiore.

The committee members are:

• Chairman Rosalyn H. Richter, associate justice for the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court, First Department.
• Maureen Belluscio, staff attorney, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Disability Justice Program
• Anne Callagy, director of government benefits, The Legal Aid Society – Civil Practice
• Beth Diebel, district executive, Third Judicial District, New York Courts
• Monroe County Court Judge Vincent DiNolfo
• Administrative Judge Sherry Klein Heitler, chief of the Office of Policy and Planning, state Office of Court Administration
• Deborah Kaplan, statewide coordinating judge for family violence cases, state Office of Court Administration
• Kleo King, deputy commissioner and general counsel, New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
• Eve Markewich, partner at Markewich and Rosenstock LLP
• Edwina G. Mendelson, deputy chief administrative judge, Office for Justice Initiatives, New York Courts
• Juanita Bing Newton, dean, New York State Judicial Institute
• Charles Perreaud, jury commissioner and court interpreting coordinator, Seventh Judicial District, New York Courts
• Robert Pipia, District Court judge, Nassau County
• Michael Schwartz, supervising attorney and director, Disability Rights Clinic, Office of Clinical Legal Education, Syracuse University College of Law
• Liz Sergi, senior social worker, Helen Keller Services for the Blind
• Charles Small, chief clerk for civil matters, Kings County Supreme Court
• Nahid Sorooshyari, senior staff attorney, Mobilization for Justice
• Dan Weitz, director, Division of Professional and Court Services, state Office of Court Administration
• Counsel to the Committee, Barbara Zahler-Gringer, state Office of Court Administration