Giving Back

Giving Back

By David R. Corder

Associate Editor

In recognition of local pro bono work, the Hillsborough County Bar Association presented two guest speakers at its March luncheon who are known for their volunteer efforts - Florida Bar President Kelly Overstreet Johnson and Atlanta Falcons' running back Warrick Dunn.

More than 400 lawyers, judges and guests attended the March 15 event at Tampa's Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Dunn, the one-time Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back, gave an update on the Warrick Dunn Foundation, the nonprofit group that builds homes for qualified single mothers. This is a program he started to commemorate the life of his mother, Betty Dunn Smothers, a police officer and single mother who was slain while investigating a robbery.

Since its inception, the foundation has provided the down payment on homes for 52 single-parent families. "For the first seven years, (Dunn) funded the program himself," said Tampa attorney Chris Knopik, a foundation director.

Over the coming months, Dunn said, the foundation plans to increase the number of down payments through partnerships with corporations such as Prudential Tropical Realty, Tampa. To do this, the foundation has asked the University of South Florida to study the impact of the program's contributions on recipient families.

"This will allow us to re-examine our goals and move forward," he says.

Johnson spoke about a few issues the Board of Governors will tackle at its April meeting.

The bar's family law section wants the board to re-examine a proposal that would allow the section to lobby for the right of gay people to adopt children, Johnson says. Nearly 70% of the board rejected the proposal in a vote earlier this year, because of the subject's divisiveness. Members now cite pending state legislation that would relax current prohibitions.

At the April meeting, the governors also will review new recommendations on lawyer advertising, Johnson said. She remains firm on her goal to require preapproval on lawyer ads.

"We will be sued over this," Johnson acknowledged. She is unsure whether the governors will adopt the recommendation. Nor does she know whether a majority would adopt proposals to require law firm Web sites to conform to bar rules.

During her term as president, Johnson also has made judicial independence a priority. She has embarked on a campaign to revise the laws adopted in 2001 that give the state governor exclusive control of judicial appointments.

"I'm not picking on any (political) party," she told the audience.

Too many people now view the judicial selection process as partisan, Johnson said. Too many lawyers don't even submit their names for appointment to nomination committees or judicial slots out of fear it is a waste of time because of the party affiliation.

"The perception is this is an unfair process," she said.

At the luncheon, the local bar also recognized this year's local pro bono recipients. The categories and recipients are:

Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award - Anita C. Brannon, Mark A. Brown, James S. Garbett, Bruce S. Goldstein, Joryn Jenkins, Peter N. Macaluso, R. Marshall Rainey, R. Andrew Rock and L. Joseph Shaheen Jr.

Outstanding Pro Bono Service by a Law Firm - Caroline K. Black, Alex Caballero, Miriam Mason and Stephen Sessums of Sessums, Mason & Black PA.

Outstanding Pro Bono Service for the Ask A Lawyer Project - Lawrence H. Samaha.

Outstanding Pro Bono Service as a Client Intake Volunteer Winner - Tammy J. Judge.

Outstanding Pro Bono Service for the University of South Florida Legal Aid Program - Jeffrey Stull.

Outstanding Pro Bono Service for the Domestic Violence Assistance Project Winner - Gwendolyn Hollstrom Hinkle

Jimmy Kynes Pro Bono Award - Scott A. Stichter.

Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award Recipient for the 13th Circuit - Kathleen S. McLeroy.