Read the news release below
Ross C. Hart, an attorney in Salem, was honored today at the Annual Meeting of the Salem/Roanoke County Bar Association. Hart received the 23rd Judicial Circuit of Virginia’s Pro Bono Award for 2007. The Pro Bono Circuit Awards were established by the Virginia State Bar’s Special Committee on Access to Legal Services to recognize outstanding efforts by attorneys in Virginia who provide legal services to the public at no cost. The term “Pro Bono Publico,” often shortened to “Pro Bono,” means that the attorney is offering his services for no fee, but instead is doing so “for the public good.”
Karen A. Gould, Executive Director of the Virginia State Bar, asked to present the award to Hart during the bar association’s annual meeting because the members of the association practice in the 23rd Circuit, which includes Roanoke, Salem and Roanoke County. Hart had been nominated for the Award by John E. Whitfield, the Executive Director and General Counsel of Blue Ridge Legal Services, Inc., who was also on hand for the presentation. In presenting the Award, Gould read from Whitfield’s letter to the Committee on Access to Legal Services. According to Whitfield, Hart had accepted 22 referrals of pro bono cases from Blue Ridge Legal Services over the past eight years. Whitfield described that cases Hart undertook as “extremely challenging,” and noted that volunteer attorney’s will frequently decline such case.
In many of the cases, Hart represented persons suffering from mental disabilities who were unable to get access to medical care because no one had been appointed as a guardian who could be responsible for making medical and financial decisions. In one instance, when no other suitable person could be found, Hart agreed to serve as the guardian for on the Blue Ridge Legal Services clients.
In accepting the award, Hart noted that his devotion to serving the public through pro bono legal presentation had its origin in the example set by his father. Also an attorney in the Roanoke Valley, Hart’s father was one of the founders of the organization that grew to be the Roanoke Valley office of Blue Ridge Legal Services.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement