The Law Library hosted the Annual Pro Bono Recognition Lunch on Tuesday, February 28 2017. This event recognizes and celebrates the attorneys who provide pro bono legal service in Anne Arundel County. Joan Bellistri, Law Librarian and Liaison, Court of Appeals’ Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services, and the Hon. Ronald Silkworth, Circuit Court Judicial member of the Anne Arundel Local Pro Bono Committee, provided opening introductions. Administrative Judge, Hon. Laura Kiessling, thanked the volunteers for their service and introduced special guest, Chief Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals, Hon. Mary Ellen Barbera. It was such an honor to have the Chief Judge recognize the work of Anne Arundel County pro bono attorneys. Hon. Barbera also helped, Tasnima Apol, Anne Arundel County Pro Bono Committee Chair, distribute the pro bono volunteer certificates.
Thank you to the Court Facilitators and attorney volunteers from the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, the Law Library’s Ask a Lawyer in the Library program and Foreclosure Clinic and the annual Anne Arundel County Homeless Resource Day for your pro bono service! Check out our Program to see the full list of volunteer attorneys and facilitators.
We had a great turnout for the event, and we would like to thank the following judges and magistrates from the Court of Appeals and the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County joining us.
- Hon. Mary Ellen Barbera
- Hon. Laura Kiessling
- Hon. Paul Harris
- Hon. Michele Jaklitsch
- Hon. Glenn Klavans
- Hon. Stacy W. McCormack
- Hon. Diane O. Leasure
- Hon. William Mulford
- Hon. Donna M. Schaeffer
- Hon. Ronald Silkworth
- Hon. Michael Wachs
- Hon. Charles J. Muskin
- Hon. Timothy P. Thurtle
- Hon. Jennifer Cassel
Also, we would like to thank Douglas Hofstedt and Nancy Faulkner from Court Administration and Kim Klein, Erin McCarthy and Sarah Adams from Case Management for attending the Recognition Lunch. It was great to see Bonnie Sullivan and Susan Francis from Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. MVLS’ support of Anne Arundel County programs is much appreciated. Special recognition and thanks must also be given to the Maryland Judiciary’s Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office for funding the lunch provided by Main and Market.
Last, but not least, thank you to the Anne Arundel Local Pro Bono Committee for its leadership in providing pro bono service to Anne Arundel County! Chair, Tasnima Apol, Joan Bellistri, Anita Bailey, Nancy Faulkner, Kim Klein, Lisa Sarro,and Hon. Ronald Silkworth, all members of the committee, were present for the event.
Michael Darrow of Hillman, Brown and Darrow was able to assist 3 people with their questions on worker’s compensation, foreclosure, and sale in lieu of partition. 
In the evening, Adam McCormick of 
On Wednesday, 
assisted five people with their questions concerning guardianship, foreclosure, real property, and the return of an engagement ring. The next program date is Wednesday, November 16, 2016.
he Ask A Lawyer In The Library program is a civil, non-family law, self-help program sponsored by The 
As we celebrate Pro Bono during the National Pro Bono Celebration, the Local Pro Bono Committee hopes that Anne Arundel County attorneys will consider the many opportunities for pro bono service in our county. But before we talk about the how of pro bono, perhaps we should talk about why. As an attorney you have the power to make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable in Anne Arundel County – the elderly, children and the poor. Your help can be the deciding factor as to whether someone has a place to live, custody of their child, or a job.
AACPLL Blog: Law Library News 