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Pro Bono Service Awards in Florida

Pro Bono Service Awards

Each year, the Florida Supreme Court and The Florida Bar honor and recognize lawyers, groups and members of the judiciary who have freely given their time and expertise in ensuring access to justice for those who otherwise could not afford it.

The 2026 awards will be presented at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 22 at the Supreme Court of Florida.

Nominations for the 2026 awards closed Sept. 19, 2025.

Nomination Process

Honorees for the annual pro bono awards can be nominated by legal aid groups, fellow lawyers or anyone else who knows of exceptional pro bono service provided by a lawyer, judge, voluntary bar or law firm. For circuit awards, honorees are recommended by circuit committees and approved by The Florida Bar president. A committee of the Young Lawyers Division (YLD) of The Florida Bar chooses the YLD honoree. The Chief Justice's Pro Bono Advisory Committee recommends the remaining honorees to the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court, who makes the final decision. Nominations typically open each year in August.

About the Awards and Past Winners

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Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award

Presented by the chief justice to a lawyer to recognize extraordinary contributions in ensuring the availability of legal services to the poor. Named for the late Miami civil rights lawyer Tobias Simon, the award represents the Supreme Court’s highest recognition of a private lawyer for pro bono service. All current recipients of The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Awards are considered for this prestigious award, as are direct nominees who have demonstrated exemplary pro bono service over the course of their careers.

Tobias Simon Award Past Recipients

Year	Honoree	City
2026	Stephen Senn	Lakeland
2025	Thomas Zehnder	Orlando
2024	Jamie Billotte Moses	Orlando
2023	Timothy Allen Moran	Oviedo
2022	Raymond F. Brady	Gainesville
2021	Anthony C. Musto	Hallandale Beach
2020	Mary Ann Etzler	Orlando
2019	Patricia A. Redmond	Miami
2018	Stephen M. Todd	Tampa
2017	Mark Olive	Tallahassee
2016	Bruce B. Blackwell	Winter Park
2015	John W. Kozyak	Miami
2014	Karen Meyer Buesing	Tampa
2013	Jeanne Trudeau Tate	Tampa
2012	Rosemary E. Armstrong	Tampa
2011	Robert G. Kerrigan	Pensacola
2010	Robert C. Josefsberg	Miami
2009	Russell E. Carlisle	Fort Lauderdale
2008	Sylvia Hardaway Walbolt	Tampa
2007	Talbot "Sandy" D'Alemberte	Tallahassee
2006	Katherine Warthen Ezell	Miami
2005	James M. Vanderplas	Indian Rocks Beach
2004	Edward M. Waller Jr.	Tampa
2003	Jacqueline Marie Valdespino	Miami
2002	Maurice Wagner	Deltona
2001	Gerald Israel Kornreich	Miami
2000	Victor Manuel Diaz Jr.	Miami
1999	Daniel Frederick Wilensky	Jacksonville
1998	Vance Edwin Salter	Miami
1997	James M. Russ	Orlando
1996	Richard Craig Milstein	Miami
1995	Leon Blakely Cheek III	Fern Park
1994	Allan Howard Terl	Fort Lauderdale
1993	Nancy S. Palmer	Maitland
1992	Steven Mark Goldstein	Tallahassee
1991	Alexandra delaVergne St. Paul	Bradenton
1990	Howard W. Dixon	Miami
1989	Herbert Lee Allen Jr.	Orlando
1988	Jean Gillespie Booher	Fort Lauderdale
1987	Steven Lauren Seliger	Quincy
1986	Roderick Norman Petrey	Miami
1985	William J. Sheppard	Jacksonville
1984	Neil Chonin	Coral Gables
1983	Philip John Padovano	Tallahassee
1982	Ira J. Kurzban	Miami

Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award

This award is given to an outstanding attorney for each of the state’s 20 judicial circuits and to an outstanding attorney among the out-of-state Florida Bar members.

Recipients of the 2026 President's Awards follow. See an index of President’s Pro Bono Service Award Recipients by Year dating back to 1982.

2026 President's Pro Bono Award Recipients

Honoree	Circuit
Douglas Alan Bates	1st Judicial Circuit (Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties)
Randy Murrell	2nd Judicial Circuit (Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties)
Elizabeth Brinson	3rd Judicial Circuit (Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee and Taylor counties)
Alexandra Underkofler	4th Judicial Circuit (Clay, Duval and Nassau counties)
Reuben S. Williams IV	5th Judicial Circuit (Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties)
Russell “Jake” Dewberry	6th Judicial Circuit (Pasco and Pinellas counties)
Dayanna Lopez	7th Judicial Circuit (St. Johns, Volusia, Flagler and Putnam counties)
Elyot Xia-Zhu	8th Judicial Circuit (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Union counties)
Mary Doty Solik	9th Judicial Circuit (Orange and Osceola counties)
John Ligouri	10th Judicial Circuit (Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties)
Maria Isabel Casablanca	11th Judicial Circuit (Dade County)
Katherine M. Fall	12th Judicial Circuit (DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties)
Daniela Estefany Mendez	13th Judicial Circuit (Hillsborough County)
Richard Ogburn	14th Judicial Circuit (Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties)
Alan Roy Crane	15th Judicial Circuit (Palm Beach County)
Joseph S. Mack	16th Judicial Circuit (Monroe County)
Suzanne M. Busser	17th Judicial Circuit (Broward County)
John N. Knutton	18th Judicial Circuit (Brevard and Seminole counties)
Jennifer N. White	19th Judicial Circuit (Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties)
Kristianna Rodriguez Soto	20th Judicial Circuit (Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties)
Amy Thome	Out of state

Chief Justice's Distinguished Federal Judicial Service Award

Presented by the chief justice, this award recognizes an active or retired federal judge for outstanding and sustained service to the public, whether through legal or civic service or a combination of them, especially as it relates to the support of pro bono legal services.

Distinguished Federal Judicial Service Award Past Recipients

Year	Honoree(s)
2026	Hon. Amanda Sansone, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
2025	Hon. Timothy Corrigan, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
2024	Hon. Beth Bloom and Hon. Robin L. Rosenberg, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
2023	Hon. Judge Emeritus A. Jay Cristol, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Florida
2022	Hon. Marcia Morales, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
2021	Hon. Virginia M. Hernandez Covington, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
2020	Hon. Karen Sue Jennemann, U.S. Bankruptcy judge, Middle District of Florida
2019	Hon. Roy B. Dalton Jr.
2018	Hon. Patricia Seitz, Miami
2017	Hon. Laurel Myerson Isicoff, Miami
2016	Hon. Catherine Peek McEwen, Tampa

Chief Justice's Distinguished Judicial Service Award

Presented by the chief justice, this award is given for outstanding and sustained service to the public, especially as it relates to support of pro bono legal services.

Distinguished Judicial Service Award Past Recipients

Year	Honoree
2026	Hon. Darren Farfante, 13th Judicial Circuit
2025	Hon. Samantha Schosberg Feuer, 15th Judicial Circuit Court
2024	Hon. Bertila Soto, 11th Judicial Circuit Court
2023	Hon. Ronald Ficarrotta, Chief Judge, 13th Judicial Circuit Court
2022	Hon. Bonnie J. Helms, 16th Judicial Circuit
2021	Hon. Barbara Twine Thomas, 13th Judicial Circuit Criminal Division
2020	Hon. Lisa Davidson, 18th Judicial Circuit
2019	Hon. Nina Ashenafi-Richardson
2018	Hon. Vance E. Salter, Miami
2017	Hon. Virginia Baker Norton, Jacksonville
2016	Hon. Cynthia L. Cox, Vero Beach
2015	Hon. Ashley B. Moody, Tampa
2014	Hon. Emily A. Peacock, Tampa
2013	Hon. Claudia Rickert Isom, Tampa
2012	Hon. James M. Barton II, Tampa
2011	Hon. Susan G. Sexton, Tampa
2010	Hon. Nikki Ann Clark, Tallahassee
2009	Hon. John Robert Blue, retired, St. Petersburg
2008	Hon. Michael Francis Andrews, Clearwater
2007	Hon. Lauren L. Brodie, Naples
2006	Hon. Charles A. Francis, Tallahassee
2005	Hon. William A. Van Nortwick Jr., Tallahassee

Chief Justice’s Law Firm Commendation Award

This statewide award, presented by the chief justice, recognizes a law firm that has demonstrated a significant contribution in the provision of pro bono legal services to individuals or groups that cannot otherwise afford the services. This award recognizes extraordinary commitment on the part of a law firm to provide access to the courts for all Floridians.

Chief Justice's Law Firm Commendation Award Past Recipients

Year	Law Firm Honoree
2026	Pajcic & Pajcic
2025	Craig E. Rothburd P.A.
2024	Gedeon & Morales Law Group
2023	Bilzin Sumberg
2022	Ausley McMullen
2021	Novey+Gonzalez LLC.
2020	The Starr Offices of Pinellas County
2019	Foley & Lardner LLP
2018	Hallisky & Davis
2017	Immigration Law Group of Florida P.A.
2016	Duane Morris LLP
2015	Akerman LLP
2014	Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Prosser P.A.
2013	Clark & Washington P.C.
2012	Fisher, Butts, Sechrest Warner & Palmer, P.A.
2011	Foley & Lardner, LLP
2010	Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg P.A.
2010	Hunton & Williams LLP
2009	Fishback, Dominick, Bennett, Stepter, Ardaman, Ahlers, Bolton & Langley LLP
2008	City Attorney's Office, City of Tallahassee
2007	Hogan & Hartson LLP
2007	Messer & Messer
2006	Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns LLP
2005	Barrett & Barrett
2004	Kozyak, Tropin & Throckmorton P.A.
2003	Carlton Fields
2002	Markowitz, Davis, Ringel & Trusty P.A.
2001	Podhurst Orseck Josefsburg Eaton Meadow Olin & Perwin P.A.
2000	Fisher & Sauls P.A.
1998	Thirteenth Judicial Circuit
1997	The Broward County Attorney's Office, Office of the Public Defender
1995	Fowler, White, Gillen, Boggs, Villareal and Banker P.A.
1994	Steel Hector & Davis
1993	Wooten, Honeywell & Kest P.A.
1992	Emmanuel, Sheppard & Condon
1991	Greenberg, Traurig, Hoffman, Lipoff, Rosen & Quentelo P.A.
1991	Fine Jacobson Schwartz Nash Block & England
1990	Holland & Knight
1985	Thomson, Zeder, Bohrer, Werth, Adorno & Razook

Chief Justice’s Voluntary Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award

Presented by the chief justice, this award recognizes a voluntary bar association that has demonstrated a significant contribution in the delivery of legal services on a pro bono basis to individuals or groups that cannot otherwise afford the services. This award also recognizes an extraordinary commitment to provide access to the courts for all Floridians.

Chief Justice's Voluntary Bar Association Award Past Recipients

Year	Voluntary Bar Association Honoree
2026	Jointly awarded to the Bankruptcy Bar Association Southern District of Florida and D.W. Perkins Bar Association
2025	Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association
2024	Lake County Bar Association
2023	Haitian Lawyers Association
2022	The Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association
2021	CABA Pro Bono Legal Services
2020	Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers
2019	Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association
2018	George Edgecomb Bar Association
2017	Jacksonville Bar Association
2016	Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association
2015	Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers
2014	Central Florida Bankruptcy Law Association
2013	Tampa Bay Hispanic Bar Association
2012	St. Lucie County Bar Association
2011	Tallahassee Women Lawyers
2010	Seminole County Bar Association
2009	Dade County Bar Association
2008	Cuban American Bar Association
2007	Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida
2006	Hispanic Bar Association, Stetson College of Law
2005	Clearwater Bar Association
2003	Indian River County Bar Association
2002	Jacksonville Bar Association
2001	St. Petersburg Bar Association
2000	Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida
1999	Collier County Bar Association
1998	Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers Inc.
1997	Jacksonville Bar Association
1996	Counsel for Cuban Detainees
1995	Escambia/Santa Rosa Bar Association
1994	The Legal Aid Foundation of the Tallahassee Bar Association Inc.
1993	Put Something Back, A Joint Project of the 11th Judicial Circuit and Dade County Bar Association
1992	Orange County Bar Association
1991	Hillsborough County Bar Association

The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Pro Bono Service Award

With more than 26,000 members, the Young Lawyers Division includes all lawyers in good standing under age 36 and all new Florida Bar members of any age for their first five years in practice. The award is given to the division member who best exemplifies the highest ideals of public service.

Young Lawyers Division Service Award Past Recipients

Year	Honoree	City
2026	Anne Piervil	Orlando
2025	Amber Kornreich	Miami
2024	Michaèl’s Déborah Saint-Vil	Miami
2023	Irina Shabetayev	Fort Lauderdale
2022	Tremaine L. Hemans	Miami
2021	Fay Olga Pappas	Winter Park
2020	Belkis Plata	Jacksonville
2019	Tori Simmons	Tampa
2018	Allison M. Stocker	Jacksonville
2017	Jennifer Edwards	Largo
2016	Elisa J. D'Amico	Miami
2015	Sara Alpert	Tampa
2014	Laura E. Ward	Tampa
2013	Rebecca Lauren Sosa	Miami
2012	Timothy Allen Moran	Oviedo
2011	Rachel May Zysk	Tampa
2010	Monica Miller Evans	Tallahassee
2009	Carin Manders Constantine	St. Petersburg
2008	Heather Pinder Rodriguez	Orlando
2007	Mac Richard McCoy	Tampa
2006	Joseph F. Summonte Jr.	Sarasota
2005	Melanie Emmons Damian	Miami
2004	Thomas Alan Zehnder	Orlando
2003	Laurel Francis Moore	Tampa
2002	Lawrence Howard Kolin	Orlando
2001	Jacqueline Hogan Scola	Miami
2000	Steven H. Malone	West Palm Beach
1999	Scott Edmonds Ray	Miami
1998	Karen Josefsberg Ladis	Miami
1997	Michelle Anchors	Tallahasssee
1996	Robert Lowery Hamilton	Orlando
1995	Cheryl Ada Elizabeth Little	Miami
1994	A. Bryant Applegate	Orlando
1993	Robert Alan Williams	Tallahassee