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TWENTY-ONE LAWYERS WILL RECEIVE FLORIDA BAR PRO BONO AWARDS IN SUPREME COURT CEREMONY JAN. 22

The Florida Bar will recognize 21 lawyers for their work on behalf of low-income and disadvantaged clients at a Jan. 22 ceremony at the Supreme Court of Florida.

Established in 1981, The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Awards are intended to encourage lawyers to volunteer free legal services to the poor by recognizing those who make public service commitments and to raise public awareness of the substantial volunteer services provided by Florida lawyers to those who cannot afford legal fees. Florida Bar President Rosalyn Sia Baker-Barnes will present the 2026 awards.

The awards recognize pro bono service in each of Florida’s 20 judicial circuits as well as service by one Florida Bar member practicing outside the state of Florida. They are presented annually in conjunction with the Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service and other service awards, which are given by the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court.

In the most recent reporting period from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, Florida lawyers provided more than 1.6 million hours of pro bono services to those in need and $9.6 million to legal aid organizations.

Here are the 2026 circuit honorees.

Douglas Alan Bates, 1st Judicial Circuit

(Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties)

Douglas Alan Bates

Douglas Alan Bates serves the legal profession and local community by providing free legal support to pro se debtors through the Northern District of Florida Bankruptcy Court’s Reaffirmation Assistance Program (RAP). Managing four to six pro bono matters at a time, Bates often works behind the scenes with parties who would otherwise be left without meaningful legal assistance. His work helps address a critical need in the Northern District of Florida which has the fourth highest number of pro se cases in the state. Bates is also a longtime champion for financial literacy, which he promotes through extensive education and outreach efforts focused on improving financial literacy. His work in this area has laid the foundation for a developing initiative to support elder law education, recognizing the growing need for financial literacy among Florida's aging population.

Randy Murrell, 2nd Judicial Circuit

(Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties)

Randy Murrell

Randy Murrell’s personal philosophy is simple, but profound: if it’s for others, it’s a yes; if it’s for himself, it’s a no. This selflessness has established Murrell as a quiet but consistent resource for some of North Florida’s most vulnerable citizens, whom he serves through Legal Services of North Florida (LSNF). Although his background and specialization are in criminal and federal defense, Murrell has never hesitated to step far outside his wheelhouse to take civil legal cases, treating his pro bono work as a second full-time job. Murrell is LSNF’s most consistent contributor, most versatile practitioner, and one of their most trusted allies in the pursuit of justice. Murrell serves with compassion and patience, providing LSNF clients with the resources they need to advocate for themselves through times of crisis and insecurity.

Elizabeth Rosado Brinson, 3rd Judicial Circuit

(Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee and Taylor counties)

Elizabeth Rosado Brinson

For more than a decade, Elizabeth Rosado Brinson has helped Three Rivers Legal Services (TRLS) fulfill their mission of serving some of the state’s most vulnerable individuals. Since 2013, Brinson has helped TRLS clients with myriad legal issues — from landlord/tenant to advance directives, to family law. Brinson, who went into private practice in 2021, began her pro bono work while she was still serving Florida’s most vulnerable citizens in the Third Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office. As an Assistant Public Defender, Brinson represented indigent clients in felony and juvenile cases with fervor and determination, before turning around and bringing that same spirit of zealous advocacy to the TRLS, where clients’ needs were often beyond the scope of Brinson’s criminal defense clients. In addition to providing direct representation, Brinson serves on the  Three Rivers Legal Services Board of Directors and has contributed to The Florida Bar Juvenile Rules Committee.

Alexandra Underkofler, 4th Judicial Circuit

(Clay, Duval and Nassau counties)

Alexandra Underkofler

Alexandra Underkofler has consistently demonstrated a passion for pro bono service, beginning with her involvement in Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) during her first year of law school. Underkofler’s most impactful pro bono work has been through JALA’s Veterans Legal Collaborative (VLC), a monthly clinic providing veterans with direct access to volunteer attorneys. Underkofler is not only a regular volunteer at the VLC, but she also goes above and beyond by accepting cases for full representation. She consults with veterans on a variety of legal claims, including employment and contract questions, as well as helping with advanced directives, which is one of the most urgent needs among the veterans who attend the clinic. In 2024, Underkofler accepted eight cases for placement through JALA, earning her recognition as a “Pro Bono Superstar.”

Reuben S. Williams IV, 5th Judicial Circuit

(Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties)

Reuben S. Williams IV

Time and again, Reuben S. Williams IV has proven that pro bono attorneys are not simply providing legal services; they are restoring hope, protecting dignity, and building stronger communities. Since joining the Community Legal Services (CLS) pro bono panel, Williams has contributed nearly 300 hours of service and directly assisted 105 clients in critical matters. His work has included full representation in probate matters, including both summary and formal administration, as well as the preparation of vital estate planning documents. In every case Williams has taken through CLS, he has brought both legal expertise in probate and estate law and a sense of compassion that sets a talented attorney apart from an exceptional one. Whether preserving a family homestead, protecting an elderly client’s wishes, or securing homeownership for a grieving spouse, Williams exemplifies the very best of pro bono service.

Russell “Jake” Dewberry, 6th Judicial Circuit

(Pasco and Pinellas counties)

Russell “Jake” Dewberry

In just two years, Russell "Jake" Dewberry has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the mission of the Florida Guardian ad Litem Office, donating more than 150 hours representing and supporting children in foster care. One of his first cases involved five siblings who had been in and out of care since 2020. Working alongside a Guardian ad Litem staff attorney, Dewberry helped the younger three find permanency through adoption, while also stepping in to support the two older brothers, ages 19 and 16, who did not wish to be adopted. Dewberry became not only their advocate but also a mentor, encouraging them to stay in school, pursue their goals, and believe in their future. He was there to cheer when the oldest graduated high school earlier this year — a first for his family — and continues to support both brothers as they prepare for adulthood.

Dayanna Lopez, 7th Judicial Circuit

(St. Johns, Volusia, Flagler and Putnam counties)

Dayanna Lopez

In the past five years, Dayanna Lopez has donated nearly 1,200 hours of pro bono assistance, advocating for survivors of domestic violence and others who are navigating the legal system alone. Through her work in the Family Law Unit at Community Legal Services (CLS), Lopez has represented clients in 21 separate cases, guiding families through extremely challenging moments with compassion, skill, and unwavering dedication. Lopez also participates regularly in Community Legal Services’ Sealing and Expungement Clinics, where she provides critical guidance to individuals seeking a fresh start. In addition to her pro bono work, she has recruited colleagues in her firm to represent clients who need legal services, immeasurably multiplying the scale of her impact on the community. Lopez brings compassion, skill, and tenacity to every case, embodying the principle that justice must be available to all, regardless of means.

Elyot Xia-Zhu, 8th Judicial Circuit

(Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Union counties)

Elyot Xia-Zhu

Since 2019, Elyot Xia-Zhu has worked on nearly 100 cases through Three Rivers Legal Services (TRLS), helping hundreds of individuals obtain and retain safe and secure housing. Xia-Zhu regularly participates in TRLS’s weekly housing clinics, providing information and advice on a variety of housing issues that they might otherwise have had to confront alone. Xia-Zhu advises client on matters of rent withholding, evictions, security deposits, and repairs, among others, ensuring that low-income Floridians not only understand their housing rights but also know how to advocate for themselves. Xia-Zhu’s contributions underscore the breadth of his knowledge, as the services he provides through TRLS is markedly different from his work as Global Compliance Counsel for Exactech, Inc., in Gainesville, where he advises and manages internal compliances systems, drafts commercial contracts, along with a range of other complex, multi-jurisdictional responsibilities.

Mary Doty Solik, 9th Judicial Circuit

(Orange and Osceola counties)

Mary Doty Solik

Within two years of becoming a lawyer, Mary Doty Solik took her first case through the Florida Guardian Ad Litem Office and has remained a dedicated champion for Florida’s most vulnerable children ever since. In the 33 years since taking this first case, Solik has gone on to advocate on behalf of 84 children in 46 separate cases, and she has donated nearly 1,000 pro bono hours to serve Orange County Florida’s most vulnerable residents. One of those cases involved six siblings and took 15 years to complete, and, in that time, Solik dedicated 140 hours to the case. Solik is actively working on a pro bono Guardian ad Litem case involving two children and allegations of sexual abuse and parental failure to protect. Cases like these are extremely complex and often emotionally draining, but Solik continues to show up day-after-day and year-after-year for these children.

John Liguori, 10th Judicial Circuit

(Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties)

John Liguori

John Liguori has dedicated hundreds of pro bono hours as a volunteer inventory attorney, working hard to minimize the impact of a practicing attorneys’ sudden death, and to ensure that any affected clients still receive the representation they need. Liguori has worked to help close out law practices and provided invaluable legal services to the former clients, most of whom could not afford to pay for a second lawyer. The individuals Liguori has served were not only spared the financial hardships they may have endured it they’d had to pay a second attorney, but they also received the same zealous advocacy and representation that any other client would receive.

Maria Isabel Casablanca, 11th Judicial Circuit

(Dade County)

Maria Isabel Casablanca

For more than 30 years, Maria Isabel Casablanca has advocated on behalf of immigrants, dedicating more than 1,000 hours to pro bono immigration work. Casablanca began her legal career at Catholic Social Services, representing indigent immigrants in deportation (removal) proceedings, and has been fighting for the rights of immigrants ever since. Casablanca has fought multiple years-long battles on behalf of individual clients, helping refugees fleeing persecution and wars secure life-saving protections and services in the U.S. In addition, Casablanca’s mentorship, recruiting, and training of junior attorneys, has proved invaluable in the ongoing fight to increase access to justice for Florida communities in need. Those she has mentored repeatedly cite her guidance in and passion for pro bono as a driving force for continuing their service in this challenging and emotionally taxing practice area.

Katherine M. Fall, 12th Judicial Circuit

(DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties)

Katherine M. Fall

Since joining Legal Aid of Manasota as a volunteer attorney in August 2018, Katherine M. Fall has donated over 430 hours of pro bono service and handled 35 cases. She has assisted clients with Petitions for Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence, Estate Planning and Guardianship matters. In addition to providing direct representation of clients, Fall actively assists Legal Aid of Manasota with its outreach and education events, playing a significant educational role by sharing her expertise with the community. She has given presentations for Habitat for Humanity, Law in the Library, and many other community organizations, underscoring her commitment to ensuring that the public understands their legal rights and responsibilities. These sessions have empowered both the public and fellow attorneys with critical legal knowledge, extending the reach of her pro bono impact beyond individual cases.

Daniela Estefany Mendez, 13th Judicial Circuit

(Hillsborough County)

Daniela Estefany Mendez

Daniela Estefany Mendez has provided more than 900 pro bono hours since 2019, most of which have been spent in service of Hillsborough County’s most vulnerable children through Crossroads for Florida Kids, Inc. Mendez, who grew up in one of Puerto Rico’s most dangerous public housing projects, uses her personal experiences to build inroads with clients, inspiring them to achieve meaningful outcomes and the invaluable sense of being truly seen and heard in court. Mendez’s extraordinary ability to transform her lived experiences into effective, compassionate advocacy has made her an invaluable resource for some of Crossroads’ most challenging cases. Mendez visits her clients where they are, at their homes, group homes, mental health facilities, or correctional facilities, and she goes out of her way to build relationships with her clients, establishing the types of personal connections that can inspire and sustain clients for a lifetime.

Richard D. Ogburn, 14th Judicial Circuit

(Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties)

Richard D. Ogburn

Richard D. Ogburn is a consistent and invaluable presence at Legal Services of North Florida’s First Friday Legal Clinic, a cornerstone program of the 14th Judicial Circuit Legal Clinic, which serves clients who would otherwise be unable to access legal assistance in civil matters. These clinics often serve as the only opportunity for low-income individuals to receive crucial legal advice, and Ogburn consistently goes above and beyond to ensure every client receives the empathy and precision they need. Beyond his clinic involvement, Ogburn’s legacy in legal aid is both deep and longstanding. From his time with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid to his ongoing support of Legal Services of North Florida, he has demonstrated a 45-year commitment to pro bono service. He has consistently made access to justice a personal and professional priority.

Alan Roy Crane, 15th Judicial Circuit

(Palm Beach County)

Alan Roy Crane

Since 1993, Alan Roy Crane has partnered with the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, providing more than 1,000 hours of pro bono service representing clients with consumer debt issues, bankruptcy, family law matters, and mentoring other attorneys. He zealously advocates on behalf of his clients and always finds a way to help the most vulnerable among us. Crane accepts cases directly from the Legal Aid Society and from the Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida through their partnership with the Legal Aid. He also serves as a mentor to the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County Bankruptcy Assistance Project (BAP). In this role, he reviews the individual facts of BAP in-house bankruptcy cases and provides pro bono mentorship to Legal Aid staff attorneys in their work as needed.

Joseph S. Mack, 16th Judicial Circuit

(Monroe County)

Joseph S. Mack

Since moving to South Florida in 2019, Joseph S. Mack has been an invaluable resource for individuals who are not only limited by financial constraints but geographical ones as well. Mack serves clients on behalf of the 16th Judicial Circuit’s Pro Bono Committee and Legal Service of the Florida Keys. Mack’s service to clients in Key West is remarkable because Mack, who lives in the Upper Keys, routinely drives over 90 miles to provide services. This willingness to do whatever is necessary to improve the legal profession and access to legal services is reflected not only in the zealous advocacy of his clients but also in his commitment to help mentor fellow lawyers who volunteer to provide pro bono service.

Suzanne M. Busser, 17th Judicial Circuit

(Broward County)

Suzanne M. Busser

Since 2024, Suzanne M. Busser has contributed more than 625 hours of pro bono services, paving the way for other lawyers to follow her example of service to Florida’s most vulnerable communities. Recently, Busser led a team of attorneys through a complex, labor-intensive case involving a Brazilian woman whose ex-husband wrongfully took their daughter out of the country. Busser’s team successfully filed a Hague Convention petition on behalf the client, in a process that took nearly a year. Once the legal matters were resolved, the team worked with a nonprofit organization to house the child until flights could be scheduled and provided a social worker to escort the child on her flight to Brazil. Busser is also actively involved in the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs GI LAW Program, which connects active-duty military with pro bono legal services.

John N. Knutton, 18th Judicial Circuit

(Brevard and Seminole counties)

John N. Knutton

In his role as General Counsel and Records Center Director for the Seminole County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, John N. Knutton has proven instrumental in shaping programs that directly strengthen public access to justice. His ability to bridge the gap between legal services and community needs has made him an indispensable leader in advancing fairness and equity within the legal system. Knutton was a driving force in creating the Clerk’s Dorothy Guess Self-Help Center, which now provides vital resources, AI-assisted ministerial support for self-represented litigants, and affordable virtual attorney consultations in high-demand areas. He also played a crucial role in establishing the Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society’s Free Housing Legal Program inside the Seminole County Courthouse. Since opening in March 2025, the Housing Office has become a lifeline for vulnerable families, preventing homelessness, and easing the affordable housing crisis.

Jennifer N. White, 19th Judicial Circuit

(Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties)

Jennifer N. White

In just over one year, Jennifer N. White has dedicated more than 200 hours mentoring a teen girl through the Florida Guardian ad Litem Office. In the summer of 2024, White became a mentor through the Guardian Ad Litem’s Office through its partnership with the Florida Association for Women Lawyers . White’s consistent presence and support have indelibly changed the life of her mentee, a 17-year-old girl who endured significant trauma. At a time when this teen’s future felt uncertain, White stepped in and opened doors to a brighter path forward. White has supported her mentee in obtaining SSI survivor benefits and managing an inheritance, even helping her purchase a car to prepare for college. What once felt impossible now seems within reach: White’s mentee plans to pursue a nursing degree and envisions a stable, independent future.

Kristianna Rodriguez Soto, 20th Judicial Circuit

(Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties)

Kristianna Rodriguez Soto

Kristianna Rodriguez Soto has never backed down from serving her community — not even while building her solo legal practice and raising children. Despite these time-consuming personal and professional obligations, Soto regularly contributes pro bono services through Family Resource Center, Lee County Legal Aid Society, and Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS). Through the Legal Aid Society alone, Soto dedicated more than two dozen hours through their specialty clinics and weekly virtual pro bono clinic. As a pro bono attorney at FLRS, Soto has also volunteered at legal clinics, where she goes above and beyond to not only help clients directly but also to educate clients on their rights and resources available to help them advocate for themselves. Before opening her own law firm, Soto was a supervising attorney and legal training attorney for the Office of the Public Defender.

Amy Thome, Out of State

(Out of state)

Amy Thome

Since 2107, Amy Thome has been a steadfast advocate for Florida’s most vulnerable children, striving to help them have better outcomes and safe, permanent homes. First as a staff attorney and then as a dedicated pro bono volunteer, Thome has devoted countless hours to the Florida Guardian ad Litem Office in the 14th Circuit and to supporting its mission of representing abused, abandoned, and neglected children across Florida in the courts and the community. During her tenure as a staff attorney and, later, managing attorney, at the Guardian ad Litem Office, Thome often took on the most complex cases and devoted much of her work to representing teens, a group she has a unique gift and passion for serving. Many of the youth she represented remain in contact with her today, a testament to the meaningful connections she forged.

This year’s awards ceremony, which also honors Voluntary Bar, Law Firm, Young Lawyers Division, Distinguished Judicial Service, and Distinguished Federal Judicial Service pro bono efforts, takes place at the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday, Jan. 22, at 3:30 p.m. Watch it live on Facebook, WFSU: Gavel to Gavel and the Florida Channel.