JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO INCREASE ACCESS TO STATE TRIAL COURTS

WASHINGTON, D.C - The Department of Justice today announced a landmark agreement to substantially improve access for the disabled to Bristol County, MA court facilities. The agreement resolves a lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice and by Joseph deMello and Miles Herman, two mobility-impaired attorneys.

Under the agreement, Bristol County will, within one year, ensure physical access for the mobility-impaired into each state courthouse. Additionally, the county will install an elevator in the Taunton Superior Court, and will relocate court operations offices. The county will ensure the availability of accessible courtrooms and restrooms, and will accommodate the needs of disabled lawyers, jurors, and other participants in the justice system. In addition to the courts, Bristol County will also ensure the accessibility of its Registries of Deeds Offices. Until it has done so, will serve individuals with mobility impairments via mail, internet, facsimile and curbside service.

Praising the settlement, Assistant Attorney General R. Alex Acosta noted, “As a nation we can hardly aspire to equality under the law while preventing the physical appearance of disabled citizens before the law. Accessibility to civic facilities such as courthouses is essential to ensuring to persons with disabilities full participation in our society. We are extremely pleased with this agreement, and believe it will serve as a model for other jurisdictions.”

Those interested in finding out more about the agreement or seeking information about and how to comply with the ADA can call the Justice Department's toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD), or access its ADA website at <http://www.ada.gov>.

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