Rush Hails Progress In 2019 State Of The Judiciary

Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush hailed better service for what she calls court “customers” during her annual State of the Judiciary address Wednesday.

Rush’s focus on court “customers” includes efforts to address the substance abuse epidemic, continually improve court technology, and target criminal justice reform measures.

An example of the latter, Rush says, is legal aid services for low-income Hoosiers who can’t get a lawyer.

“Justice only for those customers who can afford it is not justice for all," Rush says. "In fact, it’s not justice at all.”

Rush says a recent survey shows 80 percent of low-income households who were in civil court last year lacked legal counsel.

She wants the legislature to increase legal services funding by $1 million in the new budget.