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Place-Based Advocacy and Judging in Rural Areas

Statz, Michele · 2023 · SMU Scholar (Southern Methodist University)

Summary. Rural areas in the United States face severe legal deserts with few attorneys, leaving residents vulnerable to justice gaps. This paper examines how rural judges respond by stepping beyond traditional passive roles to assist unrepresented parties. Research across seven tribal and state courts in the upper Midwest reveals how judges' place attachments and rural experience shape their interactions with litigants, creating a distinctive form of access to justice that addresses rurality's unique challenges.

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Michele, S.. (2023). Place-Based Advocacy and Judging in Rural Areas. SMU Scholar (Southern Methodist University). https://scholar.smu.edu/deasonpresentations/51

Details

Countries
United States
Regions
North America
Categories
policy, general-innovation
Added
2026-06-01