FORT WALTON BEACH — Legal Services of North Florida honored over 75 area attorneys for their contributions to providing pro bono legal services for those who cannot afford legal representation throughout parts of North Florida at their Pro Bono Recognition event, Wednesday at the Compass Rose in Valparaiso.
The event recognized volunteer attorneys from throughout Okaloosa, Walton, Escambia and Santa Rosa counties during the nationally recognized Celebrate Pro Bono Week and was hosted by LSNF and the Okaloosa County Bar Association in partnership with the Walton County Bar and the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Associations.
“These individuals are being honored because of their extraordinary contributions and commitment to providing pro bono legal services on behalf of poverty level citizens,” said LSNF’s Executive Director, Kris Knab. “It is through their dedication that we are able to ensure there is hope and justice for all in our community.”
Guest Judge, The Honorable Gary Lee Bergosh, Circuit Judge of the 1st Judicial Circuit and recently appointed Chair of the Florida 1st Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, presented awardees with the 2015 Pro Bono Challenge Coin. Also honored was Kenneth L. Brooks Jr., Esq., who received the 2015 Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award for the 1st Judicial Circuit.
“It was my honor to present these attorneys with the recognition they received tonight,” said Judge Bergosh. “Pro Bono work is an important aspect of practicing law and is an important service to our community.”
Crestview honorees are Commissioner Nathan D. Boyles, S. Thomas P. Hoffer, Ryan M. Mynard, Connie Ray Roper, William Timothy Shaffer, Mark Henzler Welton, Jacob Dorman Wingard, Jr., and Susan Jeanne Winterberger.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview attorneys recognized for pro bono services