Chapter 2 examines NGO engagement with the European System of Human Rights (the Court and Commission pre-1998). It demonstrates that the relatively lower levels of NGO access and influence stem from two complementary factors. First, the Court is well funded and supported—despite its ever-increasing caseload—and generally does not need the expertise, services, or information provided by NGOs to effectively function. Second, because of the longstanding historical exclusion of NGOs, member states and court officials view NGO engagement as unnecessary and in some situations, inappropriate. Even so, motivated NGOs have continually sought greater access, particularly with regard to court governance and reforms. By capitalizing on rule changes and demanding the inclusion of civil society voices, NGO efforts yielded a few inroads in obtaining avenues of participation. Yet, as this access was often quite circumscribed and NGO funding could never match the enormous caseload, NGO participation never reached high levels nor led to considerable impact on court functionality and jurisprudence.