Central District of California - 2012 Pro Se Annual Report
Conclusion
This 2012 Report is intended to provide the reader a snapshot of the Court’s progress toward meeting the complex and important challenge of providing full access to justice for self-represented parties. While the Court continues to face an extraordinarily high self-represented filing rate, it is steadily improving its ability to assist litigants who are serious about their cases and operating in good faith. Once the eSR program is fully implemented, and assuming funding for the self-help desks continues, the Court plans to make additional strides in getting the word out in the community that these resources are available to prevent unsuspecting financially distressed people from overpaying illegitimate servicers. While the Court strongly advocates access to justice by self-represented parties, the Court continues to urge those who can afford attorneys to hire counsel.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Self-Represented Parties - The Numbers
- Impact from Assistance by Non-Attorneys
- Debtor ID Program
- Bankruptcy Petition Preparer (BPP) Tracking
- Chapter 7 Success
- Chapter 13 Failure
- Burden on Court Staff
- Fraud and Abuse
- Language Barriers
- Professional Involvement in “Pro Se” Fraud Cases
- New Programs and Services for the Self-Represented
- New Website Launched
- Call Center Implemented
- DVD Created for Self-Represented Parties
- Forms and Instructions
- Assistance from Volunteers and Nonprofit Organizations
- Los Angeles Division
- San Fernando Valley Division
- Santa Ana Division
- Riverside Division
- Northern Division
- Recognition
- Fundraising by Pro Bono Organizations for Non-Court Services
- Run For Justice
- Inaugural Leslie Cohen 5K Run/Walk
- Earle Hagen Memorial Golf Tournament
- Los Angeles Holiday Party
- Santa Ana Holiday Party
- Current Projects “Under Construction”
- Conclusion