Richard A Posner

Helping the Helpless Richard A Posner

Pro se's are in a difficult position, not only because most of them can't afford lawyers and the rest don't have lawyers, but also and perhaps more importantly because of widespread judicial hostility to them; they are thought by many judges unworthy of the attention of the judiciary. As explained in detail in my two books mentioned at the outset of this book, I retired from my court last September because of my distress at the summary fashion in which the court disposed of pro se appeals-rejecting them even when they had merit. We as a team can and I hope will accomplish more for the pro se community than has ever been done before. We have a virtually infinite number of choices of how to make a difference. The most important threshold issues are how best to spend our finite time and how to organize an effective institution. First and foremost is our commitment to help pro se individuals, in whatever respects their legitimate needs dictate, to the extent we're able. The members of the Posner Center of Justice for Pro Se's have each made that choice, and the pro se world is the fortunate beneficiary of the choice.