Justice is more than a noun, an ideal, or a lofty goal.  It is an active, integrative process that is foundational to democracy.  But it can also seem like a moving target, and for some, unfortunately, nothing more than a broken promise.  

Some people imagine that justice depends on the actions of judges and lawyers – the paid, professional guardians of the law who interpret, prosecute, and defend legislation and regulations that affect everyone.  Judges and lawyers, however, are like a two-legged stool; they can administer the judicial process, but dispute resolution without societal-involvement lacks balance.  The strength of the U.S. justice system is rooted in citizen oversight and active participation, and what happens in the courtroom is vitally important to what happens in the community.