The Ombudsman in the States

Abstract

In response to a world-wide movement in the late 1950's to encourage all governments to adopt the Scandinavian Ombudsman institution, United States scholars wrote books and articles on, and statesmen introduced bills for the establishment of, such an institution at all levels of government. This essay concerns the Ombudsman in the states. Bills to create this office have been introduced in twenty-six states, the first by State Representative Eddy in Connecticut. So far, only one proposal has been enacted into law, namely, in Hawaii. Speaker Unruh of the California State Assembly introduced an Ombudsman bill in the 1965 and 1967 sessions of the legislature, which was passed by the Assembly but rejected by the Senate. The arguments for and against the creation of an Ombudsman office are considered. While the author believes that more precise studies and explanations are needed to overcome the apathy of the public and the resistance of legislators to this reform, he concludes that the best demonstration of the feasibility of this institution in the states can result only from actual experience.