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October 16, 2012
Brooke Courthouse Information Desk Re-opens
The Access to Justice Initiative is pleased to announce that the Brooke Courthouse Information Desk reopened last month after a summer hiatus, and will operate once again from 8:30-10:00 a.m. every day the courts are in session. It is staffed by volunteer undergraduate interns who are supervised by an attorney or court administrator.
With the support of Chief Justice Charles Johnson, Boston Municipal Court Administrative Attorney Michael O'Loughlin has generously offered to provide supervision for shifts not otherwise filled by volunteers. This significant contribution by the BMC recognizes the essential role that self-help resources play in serving the 42,000 individuals who come to our courthouses daily.
The Information Desk provides basic law-related information to court users and frees up court staff from the daily burden of addressing routine, repetitive questions that take time away from other essential duties. Information Desk volunteers provide court users with assistance in:
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locating courtrooms and other offices inside and outside of the courthouse
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locating self-help resources in English and (where available) other languages |
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accessing attorney referral information and learning about limited assistance representation |
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printing pdf-fillable forms from the Departmental websites |
and providing other basic information. The Information Desk is stocked with materials about how to prepare for a day in court (in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole), how to access Spanish-language legal help, and how to find and use Trial Court Law Library resources.
The Brooke Courthouse Information Desk is joined by similar resources at the Worcester Courthouse and the Springfield Hall of Justice. SJC Senior Attorney Sandra Lundy, Deputy Advisor for the Access to Justice Initiative, has developed helpful protocols and materials for recruiting and training information desk volunteers.
These materials are available to other court complexes that are interested in establishing an Information Desk, and those who are interested in doing so are encouraged to contact Attorney Lundy or Worcester Housing Court First Justice Diana Horan.
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