Pro Bono Collaborative Holds April Session
The Court's Pro Bono Collaborative met with dozens of clients on Friday, April 8, 2022.
The Pro Bono Program provides help in civil matters to defendants who are facing criminal charges in the Court. Many of the clients are currently on one of the Court's specialty dockets. Attorneys volunteer their time to help with matters such as housing, child custody, and finances.
The Pro Bono Program got its start when Judge Joan Synenberg noticed that clients in the Recovery Court needed legal help with legal issues beyond their criminal charges. The Court hired a coordinator for the program through a grant from the Nord Family Foundation.
Judge Synenberg was out of town for this session, so Judge William McGinty opened the proceedings by welcoming the clients and community volunteers. "People in the community want to help other people in the community. I thank all the contributors for being here," Judge McGinty told them.
The program was previously honored by the Ohio Judicial Conference when it received the Ohio State Bar Association's 2019 Innovative Court Programs and Practices Award! The next Pro Bono Collaborative session will be held on Friday, May 13, and registration is required ahead of time.
