September 12, 2007
I've written a number of times about my father in this blog. I've written about his impressive record litigating cases before the Supreme Court. I've written about his sometimes odd views on fairness. I've written about the extraordinary letter he sent me one Yom Kippur. I've even written about the power of his imagination.
I haven't mentioned that he gets awards all the time. From the NAACP, from the ACLU (on whose national board he served for several years), from the AFL-CIO. In 2002 he was named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice.
Several weeks ago, however, he and his firm won an award that is apparently one of the most sought-after in the country, the American Bar Association's Pro Bono Publico Award, given in recognition of "outstanding commitment to volunteer legal services for the poor and disadvantaged."
The ABA made a very short video about the firm's pro bono work. (The other firms that won the award were all bragging at the awards banquet about how an impressive 3% of their work was pro bono. Then they showed my father's video with its casual mention that a quarter of their work is pro bono and I was like, YES! We WIN!)
The video is about three minutes long, and it's worth watching at least a little bit of just to see my father in a seersucker suit and a Panama hat. I mean, that's what he wears all the time, but it's not something one sees online very often.
While I'm feeling particularly proud, I'll also direct you to a description of some of the pro bono work the firm has done, as well as a short profile of my father.
Posted by Faustus, MD at 06:01 PM
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Comments
1) Adam875 said (on 09/12/07 at 09:24 PM):
Your dad crashed my browser...
2) mak said (on 09/12/07 at 10:39 PM):
It's no real surprise that your father is so extraordinary. Given how amazing you are, it's clearly a case of genetics. Congrats - how wonderful to read about such a gifted family.
3) Richard said (on 09/13/07 at 11:22 AM):
I just read the letter and am struck silent. What amazing insight and bravery. Thanks for sharing it. I'll watch the video when I get home from work.
4) Chris said (on 09/14/07 at 09:09 AM):
why are you trying to make us feel guilty and inadequate?
why joel? hmmm? why?
aren't we friends joel? aren't we? hmmm?
5) Jeffrey said (on 09/14/07 at 10:01 AM):
Seersucker + Panama = dapper. Plus pro bono work = hero. If he were my father, I don't know how I'd overcome my feelings of inadequacy. Mazel tov and shana tova to you both!
6) Andy said (on 09/16/07 at 11:56 AM):
Well, my father's shoes are visible in a National Geographic from the 1960's in a photo of Lady Bird Johnson at Yellowstone Park (he was showing her how to feed a marmot). So, there.
7) Chris said (on 09/16/07 at 10:40 PM):
Your father is impressive! You, though, are very impressive for posting this tribute! You're a good son.
8) Sin said (on 09/19/07 at 10:34 AM):
Good grief. I know the associate who works for your father, from back in my DC days. Rather well, actually. How small this world becomes!
9) Shakina said (on 09/20/07 at 10:23 AM):
your dad is truly a great guy...
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