New Mexico Courts webinar: who the ADA protects in court settings

The New Mexico Courts hosted a webinar on ADA Protections for Court Users in which Peggy Cadwell, the statewide Title II ADA coordinator, introduced Julie Ballinger of the Southwest ADA Center to present on who is covered and when documentation is appropriate. Ballinger said the fundamental rule under Title II is that “no qualified person with a disability may be excluded from participating in or denied the benefits of the program, services, and activities provided by the state and local government because of disability,” placing the burden on courts to remove barriers to participation.

Ballinger walked attendees through typical court users — attorneys, defendants, litigants, victims, family members, juveniles, witnesses and jurors — and stressed that courts should treat accessibility as integral to every court activity. Materials for the series and the session recording will be posted by the New Mexico Judiciary and attendees were given email contact (juliedballinger@outlook.com) and an ADA contact point at NewMexicoCourts.gov for follow-up.