By Corian Zacher
Following a year-long partnership, the Samuelson Law, Technology & Public Policy Clinic at the University of California, Berkeley, and Next Century Cities released Cut Off From the Courthouse: How the Digital Divide Impacts Access to Justice and Civic Engagement. The report features interviews with 27 professionals who have grappled with the transition to remote court and government proceedings, a practice made commonplace during the COVID pandemic.
Bipartisan Tech’s first panel, featured the report’s lead authors, Ross Ufberg and Shalev Netanel, Researchers from The Samuelson Law, Technology and Public Policy Clinic at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Ross and Shalev moderated a panel of three interviewees: Javier Trujillo, Chief Assistant Director, County of Marin, California; Peter Estes, Consumer Rights Organizer, Senior Disability Action Network; and Olivia Sideman, Associate Deputy Public Defender, Alameda County, California.
The conversation focused on the role that digital skills, devices, and affordable, high-quality Internet service have on full participation in remote court and online government proceedings. Panelists also explored solutions that local leaders and community partners play in providing connectivity solutions.
Related blog posts:
- Next Century Cities Convenes Local Leaders and Broadband Advocates for 2022 Virtual Bipartisan Tech Conference
- Democracy and Civic Participation
- Samuelson Law, Technology & Public Policy Clinic and Next Century Cities Release Report Detailing the Impact of Digital Inequities on Remote Court and Government Proceedings