The new Stanford-LASC report, A Blueprint for Expanding Access to Justice, holds important lessons for courts across the country. The report lays bare the challenges facing our high-volume dockets, particularly eviction, and points to a clear conclusion: the current system is not working for the people it’s meant to serve. But instead of criticizing it also charts a hopeful path forward to address the very challenges it names—one powered by technology, collaboration, and thoughtful innovation.
The data is stark. In 2023, over half of eviction cases in LA ended in default. That’s not because tenants didn’t care, it’s because they didn’t understand the system, couldn’t navigate it, or never even saw the paperwork. As a result, the report documents widespread procedural breakdowns and unjust outcomes in cases that impact people’s homes, livelihoods, and basic dignity.
This groundbreaking report makes clear that the court system (both in LA and across the US) must evolve. And ODR will play an essential role in that evolution.
ODR works the way our lives work today. It meets people where they are, using the devices 98% of Americans leverage every day. It enables parties to resolve cases from their phone, after work or on the weekend, in plain language they understand. It can bring transparency, structure, and due process into systems that are too complex for parties to navigate alone. The report rightly calls for LASC to become a “digital hub,” where users can access self-help tools, connect with legal aid, and participate in their case online. That’s exactly the kind of solutions ODR is built to deliver.
This isn’t just a Los Angeles story. Far from it. It’s a national story. I believe every court facing high caseloads and low response rates should read this report. It lays out the challenge clearly while envisioning a blueprint to address it.
We can all agree that the future of justice must be more accessible, efficient, and fair. ODR will be a big part of getting us there.
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