Home - Civil Justice Research Initiative

Too often, the courthouse doors are closed to those who have suffered serious injuries and violations of their rights. By emphasizing rigorous scholarship and thorough research, the Civil Justice Research Initiative can make a real difference in access to the American justice system.
Dean Erwin ChemerinskyUC Berkeley School of Law

Too often, the courthouse doors are closed to those who have suffered serious injuries and violations of their rights. By emphasizing rigorous scholarship and thorough research, the Civil Justice Research Initiative can make a real difference in access to the American justice system.

Dean Erwin Chemerinsky
UC Berkeley School of Law

Dramatic changes to the civil justice system threaten to undermine our rights as citizens. By documenting these changes and exploring their consequences, the Civil Justice Research Initiative will strengthen civil justice in the United States.
Valerie HansProfessor of Law, Cornell Law School

Dramatic changes to the civil justice system threaten to undermine our rights as citizens. By documenting these changes and exploring their consequences, the Civil Justice Research Initiative will strengthen civil justice in the United States.

Valerie Hans
Professor of Law, Cornell Law School

The fair and impartial administration of justice is the bedrock of our democracy. Without access to courts, the fundamental rights afforded by our Constitution may be stripped away. The work of CJRI will provide judges, lawyers and policymakers a sound basis for decision-making.
Roman M. Silberfeld National Trial Chair, Robins Kaplan LLP

The fair and impartial administration of justice is the bedrock of our democracy. Without access to courts, the fundamental rights afforded by our Constitution may be stripped away. The work of CJRI will provide judges, lawyers and policymakers a sound basis for decision-making.

Roman M. Silberfeld
National Trial Chair, Robins Kaplan LLP

The Civil Justice Research
Initiative explores, through interdisciplinary, academically-based
and independent research, how the civil justice system can be made
more available to everyone seeking relief.

Rank of the united States among 113 countries in “accessibility and affordability of civil justice.”

100Million+

Number of people in the United States living with civil justice problems, many involving basic human needs like housing, health care and custody of their children.

The percent of the civil legal problems reported by low income Americans for which they received inadequate or no legal help.

CIVIL JUSTICE NEWS

Federal Court Records Users Could See $100 Million in Refunds

A proposed settlement would end class action litigation over overcharging for court files. Read the news here.

EVENTS

Conversations on Civil Justice: Policing and Civil Justice, Friday, April 28, 2023, 10 – 10:30 A.M. Pacific Time (Webinar)

Why does civil litigation so rarely result in justice for police misconduct? What are the legal and social costs of this protection for police? Please join us for a discussion of these issues with Professor Osagie K. Obasogie (Berkeley Law and UC Berkeley School of Public Health) and Professor Joanna Schwartz (UCLA Law), author of “Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable (2023).”

CIVIL JUSTICE RESEARCH

Medical Legal Partnerships in Asylum Cases

The Civil Justice Research Initiative recently published a report Medical Legal Partnerships in Asylum Cases, authored by Anjali Niyogi, Hiroko Kusuda and Serena Chaudhry. Read the paper here.