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Greetings: I write to share Commission updates, an invitation to the Access to Justice Fellows Anniversary Celebration and information on the Supreme Judicial Court’s Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services’ Adams Award nominations and Pro Bono Honor Roll. Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission May 15, 2023,Meeting Highlights Thank you to the Commissioners and guests who joined us for the meeting of the MA Access to Justice Commission on Monday, May 15th. We were thrilled to see everyone in Worcester and connect in person after all this time. At the meeting, Commissioner Hon. Serge Georges, Jr., Co-Chair, moderated a panel discussion focused on access to justice concerns in Central MA. Panelists included Commissioner Adrian Angus, Public Defender, Worcester Public Defender Office District and Superior Court; Timothy Murray, Former Lieutenant Governor and President and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce; Geoffrey Spofford, Partner, Lian Zarrow; and Irit Tau-Webber, Staff Attorney, Family Law, Community Legal Aid, Worcester. In addition, Thomas Ambrosino, Court Administrator of the Massachusetts Trial Court provided us with updates on access to justice initiatives in the Trial Court. We concluded by catching up over sandwiches and cookies.
Celebrating 10+ years of the Access to Justice Fellows Program! On June 14, join the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission and Lawyers Clearinghouse at Ropes & Gray, to recognize the amazing contributions of the 185 Access to Justice Fellows who have participated in the program since 2012.
Fellows Program 10th Anniversary Celebration
Seeking Nominations for the 2023 Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards and Submissions for Pro Bono Honor Roll The Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services seeks nominations for the 2023 Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards and submissions for the Pro Bono Honor Roll.
About the Adams Award: The Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services presents the Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards (Adams Awards) each year. Named for attorneys John Adams and John Quincy Adams, the Adams Awards honor Massachusetts lawyers, law students, law firms, and legal organizations that have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to providing pro bono services for the benefit of individuals of limited means. Award recipients will be celebrated at a ceremony in October 2023.
To learn more about the Adams Awards, and about how to nominatea potential recipient, please see here.The Committee encourages the submission of nominations that reflect the diversity of the Commonwealth’s residents. The deadline for submitting Adams Awards nominations is June 23, 2023.
About the Pro Bono Honor Roll: Administered by the Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services, the Pro Bono Honor Roll each year recognizes those who meet the criteria for a certain number of pro bono hours during the designated time period. More information and links to online application forms are available here. All honor roll certification forms are due by September 29, 2023.
Thank you to everyone for a great year. I will be back in touch over the summer with Commission updates and meetings dates for 2023-2024. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out anytime.
Best, |