The firm Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP received the pro bono publico award from the Indiana Bar Foundation for pro bono work on the local, federal and international levels. In addition to being active participants with the Ask a Lawyer Program and working with the pro bono programs of the United States District Court - Southern District of Indiana, their attorneys have partnered with an Indianapolis high school and charter school on diversity curricula to encourage students of color to enter the legal field and increase their knowledge of the law. The firm has been active in the Civil Assistance Trial Panel, created by the U.S. District Court – Southern District of Indiana, assisting indigent clients, which are often prisoners with civil rights cases. They also volunteer for the Mediation Assistance Program, operated by the same district court and the Indianapolis Bar Association, offering pro se clients assistance on settlement of their cases. Partner Dan Byron is active with the International Senior Law Project and recently visited Mongolia to advise attorneys there on how to defend the rights of journalists and advocate for the rights of free press. Shown above with Justice Shepard is Phillip Fowler, a member of the management team at Bingham Greenebaum Doll.

Barnes & Thornburg attorney, Kendall Millard, has handled more than 25 pro bono cases since 2004 for indigent pro bono clients seeking asylum and mentored other attorneys to do the same.  Millard’s clients were from nine different countries including Egypt, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone. One case involved  a 15-year-old Sierra Leone native who was seeking asylum after witnessing the murder of his brother by rebels and being held hostage unless he joined their ranks. He escaped and arrived in the U.S. just after the 9/11 attacks. Since winning asylum, the young man is working and living in California and has become an asset to his community.

Judy Tyrrell was alerted to a Venezuelan woman’s need for assistance after she fled from her abusive husband with her six children. The spouse filed a Hague Convention petition alleging the victim was in violation of international kidnapping laws. The client described Tyrrell as a “defender of truth.” According to the nominator, Kerry Hyatt Blomquist of the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, “There are a few attorneys that do this kind of complex, multijurisdictional, high conflict litigation well, and many fewer who would consider doing this work pro bono.” Tyrrell took the time-consuming case despite being bullied by the abusive spouse to terminate her representation.  Ultimately her steadfast efforts resulted in a dismissal of the case and relief for her client. 

Pro bono awardee Mark Stuaan, a Barnes & Thornburg attorney, has handled 10 criminal appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit as appointed counsel and an estimated six cases where he has assisted other lawyers handling appeals. He has a strong passion for helping young attorneys learn about the appellate system and instilling in them the value of pro bono.  He has represented clients on a broad spectrum of legal actions. Stuaan is currently working on a pro bono case dealing with disparity in the Fair Sentencing Ace of 2010 between crack cocaine versus powdered cocaine. Stuaan also currently serves as the state chair of the Seventh Circuit Bar Association’s Criminal Law and Procedure Committee and participates in many other legal community organizations.

The law related education award for the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana recognizes the nonprofit’s bi-monthly lunch presentations on civil liberties and public issues relating to constitutional law. Topics range from the use of force by police to children’s rights to immigration reform and public transportation. Through these topics the public is introduced to new ways of thinking about these issues and their legal impact. The educational “lunch and learn” programs have been offered since 2006.Shown here with Justice Randall T. Shepard is ACLU of IN executive director Jane Henegar.