Seals of the Court of Appeals and Superior Court
District of Columbia Courts

Pro Bono Honor Roll

Open Letter to the 2022 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll Registrants from Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby and Chief Judge Anita Josey-Herring

July 21, 2023

On behalf of the D.C. Courts, in partnership with the D.C. Access to Justice Commission and the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, we want to express our profound appreciation to each of you who qualified for recognition on the 2022 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll. As you may know, since 2011 the D.C. Courts have recognized attorneys who have contributed 50 hours or more of pro bono work to those who cannot afford legal counsel. As chief judges, we are acutely aware of the severe hardships faced by low-income individuals who all too frequently must represent themselves in proceedings, often against represented parties. We are also aware of the growing need for access to pro bono services as thousands of D.C. residents confront ongoing economic challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing housing crisis, and reduced benefits and services due to diminished public resources. We salute you for using your talents and expertise to help those unable to afford an attorney, and rely on your continued dedication and compassion in the face of new challenges that threaten equal access to justice.

Each year we are deeply moved by the incredible number of registrants for the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, and this year surpassed expectations. In 2022, 4,714 attorneys registered for the Honor Roll, with 2,712 (more than 57%) providing one hundred hours or more of pro bono service and thus qualifying for the High Honor Roll. This represents at least 371,300 hours of pro bono service. It is deeply gratifying to see that the D.C. Bar members’ commitment to pro bono spans across all different aspects of practice. The 2022 Honor Roll members represent all sectors of our diverse legal community, with members hailing from 162 different firms, solo practices, federal and local government agencies, corporations, associations, law schools and public interest organizations.

We are tremendously proud of the robust tradition of pro bono service by attorneys in the District of Columbia. We applaud those who embrace their ethical obligation, as contained in Rule 6.1 of the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct, to perform at least 50 hours of pro bono work annually. The District of Columbia is fortunate to have a truly extraordinary cadre of legal services organizations whose attorneys work tirelessly every day to make access to justice a reality. Even as the COVID-19 pandemic receded in the public mind in 2022, we saw the pandemic’s social and economic effects continue to exact a toll on D.C.’s low-income communities, reflected in an ongoing high need for pro bono service. We anticipate that this need will continue to grow. The continued dedicated work of pro bono counsel is simply indispensable to our civil justice system. It will take all of us, working together, to make the equal access to justice a reality in D.C.

Thank you for answering – and in many cases exceeding – the call to service embodied by Rule 6.1. We know that your service is based not only from a commitment to your ethical obligations but also on your principled belief in equal access to justice. We are proud to recognize your dedication by including your name on this year’s Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll.

Sincerely,

Anna Blackburne-Rigsby
Chief Judge
District of Columbia Court of Appeals

Anita Josey-Herring
Chief Judge
Superior Court of the District of Columbia

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2022 Pro Bono Honor Roll and High Honor Roll, by name Download
2022 Pro Bono Honor Roll and High Honor Roll, by affiliation (law firm) Download
2021 Pro Bono Honor Roll and High Honor Roll, by name Download
2021 Pro Bono Honor Roll and High Honor Roll, by affiliation Download
2020 Pro Bono Honor Roll and High Honor Roll, by name Download
2020 Pro Bono Honor Roll and High Honor Roll, by affiliation Download
2019 Pro Bono Honor Roll and High Honor Roll, by name Download
2019 Pro Bono Honor Roll and High Honor Roll, by affiliation Download
2018 Pro Bono Honor Roll and High Honor Roll, by name Download
2018 Pro Bono Honor Roll and High Honor Roll, by affiliation Download
2017 Pro Bono Honor Roll and High Honor Roll, by name Download
2017 Pro Bono Honor Roll and High Honor Roll, by affiliation Download
2016 Pro Bono Honor Roll and High Honor Roll, by name Download
2016 Pro Bono Honor Roll and High Honor Roll, by affiliation Download
2015 Pro Bono Honor Roll and High Honor Roll, by name Download
2015 Pro Bono Honor Roll and High Honor Roll, by affiliation Download
2014 Pro Bono Honor Roll, by name Download
2014 Pro Bono High Honor Roll, by name Download
2014 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll members by affiliation Download
2013 Pro Bono Honor Roll, by name Download
2013 Pro Bono High Honor Roll, by name Download
2013 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll members by affiliation Download