In April 2010, Justice Speaks, a New York State based initiative comprised of attorneys, advocates, and interpreters aimed at ensuring language access in the justice system, conducted a survey of Clerks’ Offices in courthouses around New York City to assess compliance with language access mandates.  Although the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA)’s language access policies serve as a model around the country, the Justice Speaks survey results demonstrate that there are still many improvements to be made to ensure that OCA routinely provides language services outside of the courtroom when limited English proficient (LEP) litigants seek services.  

Today, St. John's School of Law and Legal Services NYC (LS-NYC) announced the creation of the Bankruptcy Advocacy Clinic, through which St. John's law students will learn about bankruptcy law while providing bankruptcy assistance to low-income New Yorkers.

August 17, 2010, Brooklyn, NY:  Today, plaintiffs RueZalia Watkins, Anthony Trocchia, and Clara Reiss, all people who are unable to travel long distances on their own or make use of the subway system because of their mobility impairments, along with Disabled In Action of Metropolitan New York and The Brooklyn Center for the Independence of the Disabled Inc., both non-profit agencies that advocate on behalf of disabled New Yorkers, filed suit against the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and New York City Transit (NYCT). They are challenging cuts to the City's bus system and its complementary paratransit system that leave them without public transportation service comparable to that provided to non-disabled people, in violation of their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  The plaintiffs are represented by South Brooklyn Legal Services (SBLS) (a program of Legal Services NYC), the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) and Emery, Celli, Brinckerhoff and Abady.  Plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction reversing the MTA and NYCT service cuts and restoring paratransit services.

July 27, 2010, Brooklyn, NY—Today, Legal Services NYC-Brooklyn Branch filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming that the Office of Court Administration (OCA) discriminates against people with disabilities who are mobility-impaired but mentally competent by failing to provide a mechanism by which they can appear in cases pending against them in the Housing Part of the Civil Court of the City of New York. The Plaintiffs claim violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act, and the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the United States Constitution.