District Judge Rhonda Hardesty has been tapped by Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb to serve on the Access to Justice Commission.

Judge Hardesty’s name was submitted by the chief justice and she was appointed by the Alabama Supreme Court.

The Access to Justice Commission is charged with the responsibility of assuring quality legal access for low income resident in Alabama who suffer disparate access barriers to the civil justice system.

Judge Hardesty will serve a two-year term on the commission. She is one of two judges selected statewide to serve on the commission.

The Access to Justice meets every other month, alternating between Montgomery and Birmingham. Unlike the criminal defense system, there is no constitutional guarantee for funding for poor people who need legal assistance for civil matters.

According to the commission, the consequences of a lack of access to justice are devastating for the poor and weaken a democratic society as a whole.

Judge Hardesty is currently serving her 10th year as District Judge of Chilton County.