Survey of judges indicates unrepresented litigants are hurting their cases

The weak economy has increased the number of litigants representing themselves in foreclosures, domestic relations, consumer issues and non-foreclosure housing matters according to a survey of nearly 1,200 state trial judges around the country. Judges surveyed say the increase in self-representation has two primary serious results. The say litigants are doing a poor job presenting their cases and that they are burdening courts already hurt by cutbacks. The judges cite the most important mistakes these folks are making.

The study was conducted by the ABA Coalition for Justice. You may read a preliminary report on the survey in the ABA Journal online here: Judges Say Litigants Are Increasingly Going Pro Se—at Their Own Peril