Judge, 2 lawyers recognized for pro bono work

Three members of the Indiana legal community are being recognized for their efforts to make legal aid available to all Hoosiers.

Indiana Tax Court Judge Martha B. Wentworth and Monica A Fennell will be honored with the Randall T. Shepard Award, the highest award given for a career in pro bono service. Also, William O. Harrington will receive the Indiana Bar Foundation’s Pro Bono Publico Award.

The honorees were selected by the Indiana Bar Foundation and the Indiana Pro Bono Commission. They will receive their awards at special ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 9 during the Indiana State Bar Association’s annual meeting at French Lick Resort. The event is free but registration is requested either by calling 317-608-6502 or emailing [email protected].
 
Wentworth served as chair of the Indiana Pro Bono Commission from 2012 to 2015. During her tenure, she led the task force that created Professional Conduct Rule 6.7, requiring attorneys to report the number of hours they provided pro bono services. She made the case for supporting such a rule to the ISBA House of Delegates in 2014 and then she traveled extensively to educate attorneys about the new requirement.

Barnes & Thornburg partner Donald Lundberg nominated Wentworth.

Fennell is the pro bono manager for Faegre Baker Daniels LLP. When she served as executive director of the Indiana Pro Bono Commission from 2003 through 2012, she drafted the recommendation for the limited scope representation rule. She has also been a member of the Indiana Supreme Court’s Committee on Unrepresented Litigants.

Tippecanoe Superior Judge Gregory Donat nominated Fennell, noting she has “served with distinction in local, national and international organizations.”

Harrington, in private practice in Danville, has provided pro bono services for the past 20 years. In particular, he has aided victims of domestic violence and children.

The Indianapolis Legal Aid Society nominated him.