[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 15889-15890]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       CONGRATULATING THE STATE OF OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE

 Mr. VOINOVICH. Madam President, I rise today on behalf of the 
people of the State of Ohio to congratulate Ohio Attorney General Betty 
Montgomery and her staff for being selected to receive the 2002 
American Bar Association, ABA, Pro Bono Publico Award.

[[Page 15890]]

  In May 2000, Betty Montgomery unveiled an office-wide Pro Bono 
Initiative to provide legal assistance for low-income seniors and 
hospice patients across Ohio. Through this program, participating staff 
attorneys offer their time and talents to provide legal assistance to 
those who can't afford it. Once training is completed, attorneys are 
allowed to provide their services at no charge for up to 40 hours a 
year. Services provided by assistant attorneys general include wills, 
general powers of attorney, durable powers of attorney for health care, 
and other ``end-of-life'' legal issues.
  Since the program's inception, 125 assistant attorneys general, 20 
paralegals, and 15 secretaries have answered the call to help 
underserved Ohioans handle their legal matters. To date, the office has 
served 625 clients by providing them with 1,235 healthcare powers of 
attorney, living wills, powers of attorney, and wills.
  This year, the Attorney General's office is one of five recipients of 
the ABA Pro Bono Publico Awards. The Pro Bono Publico Awards were 
established by the ABA in 1984 and are presented annually by the ABA 
Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service to recognize lawyers, 
law firms and corporate law departments for extraordinarily noteworthy 
contributions in extending legal services to the poor and 
disadvantaged.
  This is not the first time that the Attorney General's office has 
been honored for these services. In 2001, the Columbia Bar Foundation 
and Association recognized the program with its award for Outstanding 
Pro Bono Service by a Governmental Agency. In addition, the Ohio Legal 
assistance Foundation and the Ohio Bar Association presented the 
Attorney General's office with the 2001 Presidential Award for Pro Bono 
Service.
  I am proud to have worked with my friend, Betty Montgomery, when I 
was Governor of Ohio. Her unwavering commitment to serving the people 
of Ohio through pro bono services is vital towards maintaining a 
justice system that is meaningful to all segments of society. This 
program serves as a testament to our founding fathers' belief in a 
system of equal justice for all.
  I believe that every lawyer has an ethical and professional 
obligation to provide pro bono services. It is my hope that this sets a 
challenge for lawyers statewide and sends the message that 
participating in pro bono programs is an ideal that is embraced by 
leaders in the legal community. Betty Montgomery has certainly led the 
way in this endeavor. I am proud of her accomplishment and I 
congratulate Attorney General Montgomery and her staff on their 
dedication to providing pro bono services to all of Ohio's 
citizens.

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