A unified national platform from which self-represented litigants speak to their courts about their experiences.
“The most important thing to know about my case is that it involves documented domestic violence and that after years of fighting to protect my children the perpetrator of domestic violence won primary custody of all 4 children while I was relegated to visitations and joint legal custody. At this point, more of my adult life has been over the course of an ongoing custody battle than not.” ~Elicia Saal, state court in California
“Dear judiciary, Please have the courage to take back your proper role in our legal system. Please don’t let our legal system be for sale to the highest bidder. Please, bring us back into our courts. We were promised by our Founding Fathers that we would always be welcome there.” ~L.A. Parker, state and federal courts in Florida and New Jersey
Florida
Lori Parker, a retired professional private investigator, has been a self-represented litigant in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Sherri Renner is a former attorney and current self-represented litigant in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida.
“With a Grandfather and Uncle who were attorneys themselves, I was raised to respect the ‘Letter of the Law’. It wasn’t until March of 2011 when my faith in our Judicial System was challenged due to the legal factors that played a role with my divorce proceedings, custody issues, and the like began. It was truly a frightening eye-opening experience that I would not wish upon my worst enemy. ….
“My goal in writing this statement is not to point fingers at what is wrong with our current system, we need your help in finding a solution to help level the playing field whereby all Pro Se litigants are not disadvantaged.”
~Jonathan Schweiger, state court in Broward County, Florida
“… [T]his is absolutely ridiculous, plain and simple, unvarnished hogwash. The Rule of Law – or as I see it, the Rule of Lawyers – combined with ‘Rambo Litigation’ has thrown civility, honesty, virtue, good will, and most importantly, common sense – into the gutter. This ‘justice for sale’ model has created a legal system that looks more like Frankenstein is holding the scales of justice, rather than our lady of truth.” ~L.A. Parker, state and federal courts in Florida and New Jersey
“As a pro se litigant, I would love to see a system that is the same across the board, without variations from county to county. I would like to see a system where obvious abusers are put in their place instead of their chaos entertained to bring money into the court system.” ~Amber Byrd, state court in North Carolina
“A journey of a pro se litigator is one of the most challenging journeys; full of trials, defeats, victories, mental anguish, physical illnesses, emotional torture, and isolation, yet somehow we march on for justice in hopes of being blessed with an unbiased judge who will see the truth and protect the innocent victims through fairness, ethical actions and behaviors.” ~Rohini Hughes, state court in Virginia
Virginia and United States Military
Single moms are statistically economically and otherwise challenged and often discuss challenges receiving justice and the execution of it. Economics, cultural and social issues will continue to be challenges. One thing we can fix is empowering them with tools and respect to speak for themselves and their families as they can do in any other forum and without $500/hr costs. Access to justice is having a voice and information and being heard regardless of ability to hire individuals to tell your story.
Sarah Bonner
On September 18, 2019, the U.S. House Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Military Personnel convened to hear testimony concerning Shattered Families, Shattered Service: Taking Military Domestic Violence Out of the Shadows. The complete video is posted here.
Join Us
Pursuing Justice Foundation assists self-represented litigants with the educational and monetary support they need to present their cases effectively and create meaningful records. Without meaningful records, appellate review is unattainable. Without appellate review, trial-level judicial errors remain unchallenged. The ability to present cases effectively and the opportunity to challenge trial-level judicial errors are pressing access-to-justice issues.