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Budget, access to justice initiatives discussed at bench-bar meeting

Thursday, Mar. 2, 2017
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MBA President Jeffrey N. Catalano spoke to court chiefs and fellow bar association leaders at a meeting at the John Adams Courthouse in Boston on March 1, reaffirming that the "the MBA is firmly -- and always will be -- behind the courts."

Prior to Catalano, Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants welcomed attendees and spoke about the upcoming challenges in the year ahead with respect to legal service funding, budget concerns and continuing to preserve the rule of law in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Trial Court Chief Justice Paula Carey and Trial Court Administrator Harry Spence also spoke at the event, where they discussed the Trial Court's budgetary areas of focus, including specialty courts, statewide expansion of the housing court system, security enhancements and more.

Hon. Dina E. Fein, first justice of the Housing Court Department for the Western Division and special advisor to the Trial Court for access to justice initiatives spoke about the 100% Access Project and its goal of providing essential civil legal needs.

This year's bench-bar meeting concluded with a reception.