Press Release  Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission Announces Three New Members

BOSTON, MA — The Supreme Judicial Court today announced the appointments of three new members to the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission.

First established by the Supreme Judicial Court in 2005, the Access to Justice Commission seeks to improve access to justice for people who are unable to afford an attorney for essential civil legal needs, such as cases involving housing, consumer debt, and family law.

"We are delighted to welcome these new members to the Commission," said Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants, who co-chairs the Commission. "The new members include a public defender, the head of Boston's pioneering provider of shelter and support services for women, and the leader of an innovative community organization known for helping children, immigrants, and refugees. Each of these new members is familiar with the barriers that too often block access to justice for the Commonwealth's residents, and they will each bring an important perspective to the Commission's ongoing efforts to remove those barriers."

The new Access to Justice Commission members are:

• Adrian Angus, a trial attorney in the Worcester Superior Court Office of the Committee for Public Counsel Services. Attorney Angus has also served as a member of the Access to Justice Council of the Massachusetts Bar Association and as a board member of the American Civil Liberties Union of Central Massachusetts.  
• Leemarie Mosca, President/Executive Director of Rosie's Place. Ms. Mosca previously served as the Vice President of External Affairs and as the Director of Development and Public Relations for Rosie's Place, and has also held positions with Horizons for Homeless Children and the Italian Home for Children.  
• Gladys Vega, Executive Director of the Chelsea Collaborative. Ms. Vega has served the Chelsea Collaborative in increasingly progressive roles for more than 30 years, working for immigrant rights, tenant rights, worker rights, and multicultural and anti-racism programs, and supporting youth to access opportunities and success. She has been the Executive Director since 2006.  

Among other activities, the Access to Justice Commission coordinates with civil legal aid organizations to support their activities and develop new initiatives to address unmet needs. The Commission also works to increase the number of attorneys able to provide pro bono or limited assistance civil legal services and coordinates with the court system on initiatives that assist individuals to better understand and navigate civil legal proceedings. The Commission's members include representatives from the court system, legal aid organizations, social service organizations, bar associations, law schools, businesses, and other stakeholders in the access to justice community.

The Commission is co-chaired by Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Gants and Susan M. Finegan, Esq., of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C.

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