Geography as Legal Destiny: The West Coast’s Rural Access to Justice Crisis examines the steep barriers to legal resources experienced by rural communities on the West Coast of the United States, focusing particularly on the challenges imposed by geographic isolation. The analysis begins by documenting the long distances rural residents must travel to reach their nearest courthouse, highlighting the constitutional implications of such challenges on due process rights. Drawing on empirical data and case studies from California, Washington, and Oregon, the article underscores the effects of geographic isolation on low-income rural residents, including increased debt, entanglement with the criminal legal system, and incarceration for minor infractions. The article explores the inadequacies of current legal infrastructure and proposes innovative solutions such as the establishment of town legal centers within existing community hubs, thereby leveraging the strengths and resources of rural communities. Furthermore, it advocates for the use of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) litigation as a strategic tool to compel reforms that ensure equitable access to justice. The Article concludes that addressing the rural access to justice crisis is not only a legal and constitutional imperative but is also crucial for mitigating rural poverty and marginalization. This scholarship provides a potential roadmap for strategies to bridge the justice gap in rural areas, emphasizing that geographic location should not predetermine one’s access to legal recourse.

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