(ANNAPOLIS, Md. — April 14, 2010) Maryland’s courts are listening to citizens to hear how to improve services and access. For the past year, members of the public have been talking directly to judges during a series of open listening events throughout the state. This month, the last of these listening events will be held in Annapolis in the historic courtroom of the state’s highest court.

The public is invited to come to an open meeting on Tuesday, April 20, 6-8 p.m., at the Maryland Court of Appeals, 361 Rowe Blvd., Annapolis.

The April meeting is the last of a year-long series of listening events held throughout the state by the Maryland Access to Justice Commission. The Commission, chaired by retired Court of Appeals Judge Irma S. Raker, is a coalition of representatives from Maryland courts, executive branch agencies, legislators, attorneys, social services and faith groups, and legal service providers.

The Commission will be recommending and implementing changes to improve the ability of all Marylanders to use the courts effectively and to obtain legal help when they need it. Its primary focus is on expanding access to the state’s civil justice system, which includes landlord-tenant cases, divorce, child custody issues, small claims and debt collection, domestic violence and other non-criminal case types.

Each year, the state’s courts handle more than two million cases. The Maryland Access to Justice Commission is working to enhance the quality of justice for people who encounter barriers when they are dealing with the courts, including the challenges faced by people who represent themselves in court. Other barriers include language or literacy issues, challenges due to varying physical abilities, not being able to afford to hire legal help or take time off work to attend to legal issues, or a lack of understanding of the civil justice system in Maryland and the resources available.

More than 400 advocacy organizations have been invited to attend regional listening events and to bring clients with them who have a story to tell that can inform the Commission’s work.

The listening event on April 20 is free and open to the public, and all are invited to provide written testimony. Registration is required, and registered participants will be invited to speak, time permitting. For information on providing written testimony, directions to the event, or to register, go to www.mdcourts.gov/mdatjc.

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The Maryland Access to Justice Commission was created to improve and expand all people’s access to the state’s civil justice system. The goal of the Commission is to enhance the quality of justice in civil legal matters for persons who encounter barriers when dealing with the courts or trying to solve legal problems.

Editor’s note: A video message from retired Court of Appeals Judge Irma S. Raker, chair of the Maryland Access to Justice Commission, is available online: www.mdcourts.gov/mdatjc