Arizona is looking at ways to reform its civil justice system. Arizona Chief Justice Scott Bales announced the initiative Wednesday .
The state effort mirrors national initiatives and resolutions from the Conference of Chief Justicesand the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System. The 24-member committee of Arizona judges, lawyers and policy makers will meet in 2016 to discuss ways to reduce the time and cost of civil litigation.
Arizona Supreme Court spokesperson Heather Murphy said the committee may consider the expenses associated with discovery, which is the pre-trial process parties go through to gather evidence.
“One of the big costs that companies incur in civil disputes is the issue of discovery and how deep you go, how wide you go.”
In the ordercreating the committee, Justice Bales said one goal of reform will be promoting equal access to justice. The committee is scheduled to develop recommendations by October 2016.
