Shriver Civil Counsel Act Implementation Committee
Makes recommendations on which pilot projects will be selected and provides input into the design of the pilot projects evaluations, which are required by the authorizing legislation.
Date Established: September 1, 2010
Key projects of this advisory body are outlined in the annual agenda.
January 31, 2023 Meeting
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Past Shriver Civil Counsel Act Implementation Committee Meetings
Download the Committee Roster
Members
- Hon. Terry B. Friedman (Ret.), Chair
- Mr. Kevin G. Baker, Attorney
- Hon. Corie J. Caraway,, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Butte
- Ms. Salena Copeland, Executive Director, Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC)
- Ms. Mary Lavery Flynn, Consultant
- Ms. Donna Hershkowitz, Chief of Programs, The State Bar of California
- Mr. Jack Londen,, Executive Director, California Access to Justice Commission
- Ms. Clare Pastore, Professor of the Practice of Law, University of Southern California Gould School of Law
- Hon. Laurie D. Zelon (Ret.)
Judicial Council Lead Committee Staff
- Ms. Melanie Snider, Supervising Attorney, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California
- Ms. Laura Brown, Senior Analyst, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California
5 Year Shriver Report - June 2020
Shriver Report - First 6 Years - August 2017
- Short Summary of Findings of Final Report
- Preliminary report - January 31, 2016
Report Chapters (contained in the full report)
- Chapter on Housing Projects
- Chapter on Child Custody Projects
- Chapter on Probate Guardianship and Conservatorship Project
Fact Sheets
Request for Applications to Operate Pilot Projects Under the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act, Fiscal Years 2023-2026
The Judicial Council of California, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, is charged with the implementation of the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act (Assem. Bill 590 (Feuer); Stats. 2009, ch. 457) by funding pilot projects. The purpose of the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act is to improve timely and effective access to justice in civil cases by funding one or more pilot projects that provide legal representation and improved court services to low-income parties on critical legal issues affecting basic human needs.
The program has had four grant cycles since 2011. In early 2012, the Judicial Council selected 10 pilot projects to receive grant funds. Nine projects were selected in 2014, and 10 were selected in 2017. For the 2020-2023 grant cycle, 12 projects were selected in 2020, and one additional project was selected in 2021. Under the terms of the legislation, the projects were authorized for three-year periods, subject to renewal for a period to be determined by the Judicial Council, in consultation with each participating project, considering the project’s capacity and success. The fifth three-year grant period will commence on October 1, 2023. An estimated $15 million will be recommended to fund pilot projects for each fiscal year of the 2023-2026 grant period.
Applications may only be submitted by qualified legal services providers, as defined by Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6213(a), and their court partners. Qualified legal service providers must complete the online application using Submittable, available at the link below. Instructions on how to submit your application using Submittable are also provided below. Completed applications must be submitted by 2:00 p.m., Friday February 24, 2023. NO EXTENSIONS WILL BE GRANTED.
The application consists of a Project Summary, Project Narrative, Budget Proposal, and Certifications and Attachments. Further details, including eligibility, grant timeline, grant awards, use of funds, and application review, are available in the online application and related documents, below.
Questions regarding this application may be submitted by February 1, 2023, to ShriverCommittee@jud.ca.gov.
A Zoom videoconference to answer questions from potential applicants will be held on Friday, January 20, 2023, at noon.
Zoom Meeting Link:
https://jud-ca-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1605730906?pwd=YlhyVXF1WjZaUHhqVXNJenRMU25YUT09
Meeting ID: 160 573 0906
Passcode: 948440
Links to application and additional resources:
- Application to Operate Pilot Projects Under the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act, Fiscal Years 2023-2026
- Instructions on how to submit an application using Submittable: How Can I submit?
- Instructions on how to invite people to collaborate on a submission.
- Shriver Application Budget 2023-2026
- Attachment 1 – Administrative Rules Governing RFPs (Non-IT Services)
- Attachment 2 – Standard Terms and Conditions
- Attachment 3 – Proposer’s Acceptance of Terms and Conditions
- Attachment 4 – General Certifications Form
- Attachment 5 – Darfur Contracting Act Certification
- Attachment 6 – Payee Data Record Form
- Attachment 7 – Iran Contracting Act Certification
- Attachment 8 – Unruh Civil Rights Act and California Fair Employment and Housing Act Certification
Background
The Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act (Assem. Bill 590 [Feuer]; Stats. 2009 ch. 457) provides that commencing in fiscal year 2011–2012, one or more pilot projects selected by the Judicial Council will be funded to provide legal representation to low-income parties on critical legal issues affecting basic human needs. The pilot projects are operated by legal services nonprofit corporations working in collaboration with their local superior courts.
The purpose of the pilot projects is to improve timely and effective access to justice in civil cases and thereby avoid undue risk of erroneous court decisions resulting from the nature and complexity of the law in the specific proceeding or the disparities between parties in legal representation, education, sophistication, language proficiency, and access to self-help or alternative dispute resolution services.
Selected legal services agencies provide representation to low-income Californians who are at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level and need representation in one or more of the following areas:
- Housing-related matters;
- Domestic violence and civil harassment restraining orders;
- Elder abuse;
- Guardianship of the person;
- Probate conservatorship; or
- Child custody actions by a parent seeking sole legal or physical custody of a child, particularly where the opposing side is represented.
To the extent practical, legal services agencies must make use of pro bono services from attorneys.
Selected court partners implement improved court procedures, training, case management and administration methods, and best practices to ensure that unrepresented parties in the proposed case types have meaningful access to court, to guard against the involuntary waiver of rights or the disposition of cases by default, and to encourage fair and expeditious voluntary dispute resolution consistent with principles of judicial neutrality.
The statute provides that “the participating projects shall be selected by a committee appointed by the Judicial Council with representation from key stakeholder groups including judicial officers, legal services providers, and others, as appropriate. The committee shall assess the applicants’ capacity for success, innovation and efficiency, including, but not limited to, the likelihood that the project would deliver quality representation in an effective manner that would meet critical needs in the community and address the needs of the court with regard to access to justice and calendar management, and the unique local unmet needs for representation in the community.”
The Shriver Civil Counsel Act Implementation Committee was appointed by the Judicial Council to review applications and make recommendations about funding.
The Judicial Council conducted a study to demonstrate the effectiveness and continued need for the pilot program. A preliminary report was submitted to the Governor and the Legislature on January 31, 2016. A final report was submitted August 2017 to the Legislature and Governor that showed improved outcomes for those who received legal services. Here is a short summary of findings of the report submitted to the Legislature.
Three chapters of the report are attached here. One reports on the housing projects, one on the child custody projects, and the other on the probate guardianship and conservatorship project. These chapters are contained in the full report.
January 31, 2023 Meeting
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Past Shriver Civil Counsel Act Implementation Committee Meetings
Download the Committee Roster
Members
- Hon. Terry B. Friedman (Ret.), Chair
- Mr. Kevin G. Baker, Attorney
- Hon. Corie J. Caraway,, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Butte
- Ms. Salena Copeland, Executive Director, Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC)
- Ms. Mary Lavery Flynn, Consultant
- Ms. Donna Hershkowitz, Chief of Programs, The State Bar of California
- Mr. Jack Londen,, Executive Director, California Access to Justice Commission
- Ms. Clare Pastore, Professor of the Practice of Law, University of Southern California Gould School of Law
- Hon. Laurie D. Zelon (Ret.)
Judicial Council Lead Committee Staff
- Ms. Melanie Snider, Supervising Attorney, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California
- Ms. Laura Brown, Senior Analyst, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California
5 Year Shriver Report - June 2020
Shriver Report - First 6 Years - August 2017
- Short Summary of Findings of Final Report
- Preliminary report - January 31, 2016
Report Chapters (contained in the full report)
- Chapter on Housing Projects
- Chapter on Child Custody Projects
- Chapter on Probate Guardianship and Conservatorship Project
Fact Sheets
Request for Applications to Operate Pilot Projects Under the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act, Fiscal Years 2023-2026
The Judicial Council of California, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, is charged with the implementation of the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act (Assem. Bill 590 (Feuer); Stats. 2009, ch. 457) by funding pilot projects. The purpose of the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act is to improve timely and effective access to justice in civil cases by funding one or more pilot projects that provide legal representation and improved court services to low-income parties on critical legal issues affecting basic human needs.
The program has had four grant cycles since 2011. In early 2012, the Judicial Council selected 10 pilot projects to receive grant funds. Nine projects were selected in 2014, and 10 were selected in 2017. For the 2020-2023 grant cycle, 12 projects were selected in 2020, and one additional project was selected in 2021. Under the terms of the legislation, the projects were authorized for three-year periods, subject to renewal for a period to be determined by the Judicial Council, in consultation with each participating project, considering the project’s capacity and success. The fifth three-year grant period will commence on October 1, 2023. An estimated $15 million will be recommended to fund pilot projects for each fiscal year of the 2023-2026 grant period.
Applications may only be submitted by qualified legal services providers, as defined by Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6213(a), and their court partners. Qualified legal service providers must complete the online application using Submittable, available at the link below. Instructions on how to submit your application using Submittable are also provided below. Completed applications must be submitted by 2:00 p.m., Friday February 24, 2023. NO EXTENSIONS WILL BE GRANTED.
The application consists of a Project Summary, Project Narrative, Budget Proposal, and Certifications and Attachments. Further details, including eligibility, grant timeline, grant awards, use of funds, and application review, are available in the online application and related documents, below.
Questions regarding this application may be submitted by February 1, 2023, to ShriverCommittee@jud.ca.gov.
A Zoom videoconference to answer questions from potential applicants will be held on Friday, January 20, 2023, at noon.
Zoom Meeting Link:
https://jud-ca-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1605730906?pwd=YlhyVXF1WjZaUHhqVXNJenRMU25YUT09
Meeting ID: 160 573 0906
Passcode: 948440
Links to application and additional resources:
- Application to Operate Pilot Projects Under the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act, Fiscal Years 2023-2026
- Instructions on how to submit an application using Submittable: How Can I submit?
- Instructions on how to invite people to collaborate on a submission.
- Shriver Application Budget 2023-2026
- Attachment 1 – Administrative Rules Governing RFPs (Non-IT Services)
- Attachment 2 – Standard Terms and Conditions
- Attachment 3 – Proposer’s Acceptance of Terms and Conditions
- Attachment 4 – General Certifications Form
- Attachment 5 – Darfur Contracting Act Certification
- Attachment 6 – Payee Data Record Form
- Attachment 7 – Iran Contracting Act Certification
- Attachment 8 – Unruh Civil Rights Act and California Fair Employment and Housing Act Certification
Background
The Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act (Assem. Bill 590 [Feuer]; Stats. 2009 ch. 457) provides that commencing in fiscal year 2011–2012, one or more pilot projects selected by the Judicial Council will be funded to provide legal representation to low-income parties on critical legal issues affecting basic human needs. The pilot projects are operated by legal services nonprofit corporations working in collaboration with their local superior courts.
The purpose of the pilot projects is to improve timely and effective access to justice in civil cases and thereby avoid undue risk of erroneous court decisions resulting from the nature and complexity of the law in the specific proceeding or the disparities between parties in legal representation, education, sophistication, language proficiency, and access to self-help or alternative dispute resolution services.
Selected legal services agencies provide representation to low-income Californians who are at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level and need representation in one or more of the following areas:
- Housing-related matters;
- Domestic violence and civil harassment restraining orders;
- Elder abuse;
- Guardianship of the person;
- Probate conservatorship; or
- Child custody actions by a parent seeking sole legal or physical custody of a child, particularly where the opposing side is represented.
To the extent practical, legal services agencies must make use of pro bono services from attorneys.
Selected court partners implement improved court procedures, training, case management and administration methods, and best practices to ensure that unrepresented parties in the proposed case types have meaningful access to court, to guard against the involuntary waiver of rights or the disposition of cases by default, and to encourage fair and expeditious voluntary dispute resolution consistent with principles of judicial neutrality.
The statute provides that “the participating projects shall be selected by a committee appointed by the Judicial Council with representation from key stakeholder groups including judicial officers, legal services providers, and others, as appropriate. The committee shall assess the applicants’ capacity for success, innovation and efficiency, including, but not limited to, the likelihood that the project would deliver quality representation in an effective manner that would meet critical needs in the community and address the needs of the court with regard to access to justice and calendar management, and the unique local unmet needs for representation in the community.”
The Shriver Civil Counsel Act Implementation Committee was appointed by the Judicial Council to review applications and make recommendations about funding.
The Judicial Council conducted a study to demonstrate the effectiveness and continued need for the pilot program. A preliminary report was submitted to the Governor and the Legislature on January 31, 2016. A final report was submitted August 2017 to the Legislature and Governor that showed improved outcomes for those who received legal services. Here is a short summary of findings of the report submitted to the Legislature.
Three chapters of the report are attached here. One reports on the housing projects, one on the child custody projects, and the other on the probate guardianship and conservatorship project. These chapters are contained in the full report.
Contact Information
Center for Families, Children & the Courts
Operations & Programs
ShriverCommittee@jud.ca.gov