(KNZA)--Eighty percent of all active Kansas attorneys live in six urban counties, leaving Kansas rural communities struggling to find legal help. The newly created Rural Justice Initiative Committee plans to tackle the issue, with the goal of attracting attorneys to practices in rural areas.

According to a news release from the Kansas Judicial Center, Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert created the committee Thursday with an executive order. Luckert said the lack of attorneys constituted a crisis, damaging the lives of rural residents.

The 35-member committee, headed by Justice K.J. Wall, will collect data on the legal needs of rural populations, make recommendations about existing Kansas rural attorney recruitment projects and study demographic trends. At the end of 18 months, the committee will report back to the Supreme Court with its initial recommendations.

Among those appointed to the committee were Jefferson County Attorney Johusa Ney.