2019 COD Network Conference

Defenders are used to wearing many hats to better serve their clients and communities. Public defenders in Spokane, Washington, are exploring new frontiers in the role they play in a downtown library where a local community court operates. The idea is simple, but the implementation has taken years to perfect. Instead of asking high-needs clients to come downtown to the traditional court, bring the court and a range of services to where these clients already convene and seek refuge. What's in it for the library? The program has crafted a new role for this valuable community resource that has needed to reinvent itself in recent years. This process involves collaboration with other court players in crafting responses that address clients' underlying needs while ensuring procedural and substantive justice. This presentation will be co-hosted by the Center for Court Innovation and a defender from Spokane to explore the nuances of this role for defenders, not only balancing zealous advocacy with a more collaborative approach, but also testing these strategies in new settings with new partners. The presenters will explore with the audience what skills and approaches are needed to implement the library-based community court model and early lessons from replication efforts elsewhere in the country.