Applications are being accepted for the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission, appointed by the board of governors to administer the Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program. Terms of appointment are three years. Individuals wishing to volunteer may complete the application form that appeared in the February 1998 California Bar Journal or request an application from the trust fund office at 415/561-8252.

Applications must be submitted by April 15.

California’s new “Access to Justice” commission has three projects in the works:

• A series of community forums addressing barriers to access;

• Roundtable discussions of pro per issues, initially focusing on family law; and

• A pro per survey to determine the needs of individuals who are forced to handle their own legal matters.

Individuals and organizations interested in improving court/community outreach activities are invited to attend public meetings sponsored by a Judicial Council task force.

Meetings are scheduled for March 16 at the Best Western Hilltop in Redding, and April 13 at the Hyatt Regency in Los Angeles.

The 30-member task force is seeking increased collaboration between courts and their communities and the development of community-focused courts.

Persons interested in attending a meeting should contact Katy Locker at 415/904-2361. A public comment period is scheduled at each meeting between 1-1:30 p.m.

New and increased filing fees took effect in all California superior and municipal courts Jan. 1 as a result of the Lockyer-Isenberg Trial Court Funding Act of 1997.

The changes include, among other things, a fee increase for filing a civil complaint in both superior and municipal courts; a new $75 superior court fee and a new $45 municipal court fee for filing an amended complaint; and a new $14 fee for filing any motion in small claims court.

In addition to increasing court fees, the new trial court funding legislation consolidates all court funding at the state level, caps the counties’ financial responsibilities, and requires the state to fund all future growth in court operations costs.

The fee increases are expected to generate approximately $87 million annually for trial court funding. Since they did not take effect until last month, it is estimated they will raise about $44 million during fiscal year 1997-98.

The State Bar’s emeritus attorney pro bono participation program offers retired attorneys the opportunity to contribute their valuable legal skills to assist low-income Californians. The bar waives the active membership fees of emeritus attorneys who volunteer through qualified legal services programs.

Attorneys may vary their level of involvement and do not need to have expertise in poverty law. Emeritus attorneys receive training, access to MCLE programs and malpractice insurance coverage through their local programs.

To be eligible, an attorney must be a member in good standing with the State Bar, have practiced law or served as a judge in California at least three of the last eight years, and have been admitted to practice law at least 10 years.

Further information is available from Eve Hershcopf in the bar’s office of legal services at 415/561-8213 or 1-800/628-4858.

In the wake of last month's storm-related disasters, many local bar associations have created disaster assistance programs in which attorneys volunteer their expertise to help victims. A new guidebook published by the State Bar can help those efforts operate more smoothly.

The California Handbook for Disaster Legal Services is a comprehensive 300-page training manual designed to assist in the creation of disaster response plans.

Topics include disaster-related housing assistance programs, Small Business Administration loans, unemployment assistance, food stamps and other public assistance programs for disaster victims.

A wide range of experts and emergency services personnel contributed to the handbook, which was published with funds from the Foundation of the State Bar.

In recent years, when floods, earthquakes or other disasters have occurred in California, attorneys have generously volunteered their expertise to assist victims.

Bar associations, legal services and pro bono programs, and State Bar-certified lawyer referral services may each obtain one free copy of the manual (until the supply runs out). Others may purchase the handbook for $20; checks should be made payable to the State Bar of California and sent to Mary Holomon-Thomas, 555 Franklin St., San Francisco 94012.

Further information about the manual is available from Sharon Ngim, 1-800/628-4858 or 415/561-8267.

The State Bar is seeking applicants for six appointments to the ABA House of Delegates. Each delegate serves a two-year term, with terms beginning at the end of the association’s annual meeting Aug. 5.

Delegates are expected to attend the mid-year and annual ABA meetings and, on occasion, to participate in conference calls prior to the meetings. They are required to pay their own travel expenses.

In making the appointments, the board of governors will consider each applicant’s participation in ABA activities, working knowledge of the House of Delegates and understanding of current issues before the House of Delegates. For delegates seeking reappointment, attendance at mid-year and annual meetings will be considered.

The deadline to apply is March 16. Applications are available from the Appointments Office, State Bar of California, 555 Franklin St., San Francisco 94102-4498; (fax) 415/561-8875; (phone) 415/561-8855.

Applicants must submit a resume and a statement regarding their ABA and local bar activities with the application.

Beginning Jan. 1, the Supreme Court amended its internal operating procedures for appointing attorneys in habeas corpus matters. The change was required under recent legislation requiring that the court “offer to appoint counsel” for habeas corpus and related representation in capital cases.

Full text of the changes to section XV of the court’s “Internal Operating Practices and Procedures” are available on the court’s web site: www.courtinfo.ca.gov.

The Supreme Court has approved Rule 1-700 of the State Bar’s Rules of Professional Conduct, regulating the conduct of attorneys seeking election to judicial office.

The new rule incorporates the relevant portions of the Code of Judicial Ethics into the Rules of Professional Conduct applicable to attorneys and makes clear the State Bar’s authority to discipline attorneys who are candidates for judicial office and violate the standards contained in the judicial code.