Press Release  Supreme Judicial Court Presents Awards to Retired Judge, Attorneys, Recent Law School Graduate for Pro Bono Work

Boston, MA — Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants today presented the 13th annual Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards to a retired judge, two attorneys, and a recent law school graduate  in recognition of distinguished service and outstanding commitment to providing legal services for those in need. The awards are named in honor of John Adams and John Quincy Adams.

The SJC's Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services selected the following award recipients, who were honored in an afternoon ceremony in the Seven Justice Courtroom of the John Adams Courthouse:

• Hon. Patrick Fox (ret.), Sterling:  For his dedication to providing critical legal services to underserved populations while an Access to Justice Fellow, including his leadership in piloting a lawyer-for-the-day program in Worcester District Court, representing Special Immigrant Juveniles who were seeking lawful permanent residence in the US, and working with organizations that help ex-offenders avoid recidivism;
• Valquiria Castiglione Ribeiro, Fall River: For her efforts in providing pro bono legal assistance to indigent and low income people in Bristol County through her work with the Private Attorney Involvement Project, the Attorneys Representing Children Project and the Probate and Family Court's lawyer-for-the-day program;
• Seth Orkand, WilmerHale, Boston:  For his leadership in creating, publishing and promoting the first ever Massachusetts guide for attorneys working to deliver legal services to victims of human trafficking and for his commitment to providing pro bono legal services for Boston's homeless population;

and a special student award to,

• Elizabeth McIntyre, 2014 Graduate, Boston University School of Law:  For her dedication to pro bono work while a student in law school, including her volunteer work with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, the Volunteer Lawyers' Project Fair Employment Project, Greater Boston Legal Services and the Victim Rights Law Center.

Certificates were also presented to those listed on the Court's Pro Bono Honor Roll for calendar year 2013. The Honor Roll each year recognizes law firms, solo practitioners, in-house corporate counsel offices, government legal offices, non-profit organizations, law school faculties, and for the first time law students, that certify that they have performed a minimum number of hours of approved pro bono legal services during a specified time period. Their names are listed on the Court's website here.
           
The SJC's Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services works to promote volunteer legal work in Massachusetts to help people of limited means in need of legal representation, in accordance with SJC Rule 6.1. 

On October 21, at a ceremony in the Seven Justice Courtroom of the John Adams Courthouse, Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants presented Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards to four recipients for their distinguished service and outstanding commitment to providing legal services for those in need. From left: Boston University Law School graduate Elizabeth McIntyre; Attorney Valquiria Castiglione Ribeiro; Chief Justice Gants; Attorney Seth Orkand; Hon. Patrick Fox (ret.).

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