Posted 12:47 am Friday, July 23, 2010
Keul Appointed To Be Commissioner On Texas Access To Justice Commission
By DAYNA WORCHEL
Staff Writer
Cristy Keul said she cares about helping people who need access to the law, but who are unable to afford it. And she'll get a chance to put her knowledge and experience to good use when she serves as a commissioner for the next three years on the Texas Access to Justice Commission.
Staff Writer
Cristy Keul said she cares about helping people who need access to the law, but who are unable to afford it. And she'll get a chance to put her knowledge and experience to good use when she serves as a commissioner for the next three years on the Texas Access to Justice Commission.
The Texas Bar Association nominated Ms. Keul to serve as the public non-attorney member of the Commission in June. In July, she said she received a letter from the State Bar of Texas confirming the appointment.
The Supreme Court of Texas created the commission in 2001 to increase services for people who need legal help but may not be able to afford it or find.
Ms. Keul has served as the executive director for the Smith County Bar Association since 1997, and has worked as the Smith County law librarian for almost 14 years. A large part of her job involves helping direct individuals who want to represent themselves in child support or divorce cases.
She will get to serve on a newly created committee for issues relating to pro-se litigants.
"I am particularly interested in issues relating to pro se or self-represented litigants," the Nacogdoches native said. Ms. Keul said she agrees with the commission that improving the means for providing assistance to pro se litigants is vital for expanding access to justice in Texas.
"While the legal system functions most effectively when litigants are represented by attorneys, there are simply insufficient resources for civil legal aid groups to represent every litigant who cannot afford to have an attorney," she said.
Ms. Keul received a bachelor's degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, and a master's degree in Public Administration in 2007 from The University of Texas at Tyler. She is also a graduate of Leadership Tyler Class 17 and a member of the 2010 Leadership Texas class. She has two grown sons and one grandson.
Harry M. Reasoner, chairman of the commission, said the organization wants people to serve as commissioners who care about access to justice.
"Cristy is well-known for the job she has done, and we think she will add real insight," he said.
Reasoner said the commission is funded by a variety of sources, which include attorney contributions, volunteer attorneys, the state Legislature and some federal sources.
