The Pennsylvania Bar Association Legal Services to the Public Committee has presented its fifth annual Judge's Award to Judge Alan D. Hertzberg of the Allegheny Court of Common Pleas. The award recognizes a Pennsylvania jurist who has made exceptional contributions to the improvement of civil legal aid.

The committee also presented Civil Legal Aid Attorney of the Year awards to Stefanie Fleischer Seldin, managing attorney for Philadelphia VIP, and to Barbara L. Payne, an attorney in the Family Division of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. The awards recognize the exceptional contributions of legal services and other public interest lawyers to the improvement of civil legal aid.

Pro Bono Awards, which recognize the direct legal services and exceptional public service of Pennsylvania lawyers, were also presented to the following: Abrahamsen, Moran & Conaboy P.C.; Bar Leadership Initiative, Allegheny County Bar Association, Class of 2009; George A. Bibikos; William M. Blaum; Meredith J. Buck; Morgen Cheshire; Colleen F. Consolo; Dougherty, Leventhal & Price L.L.P.; William Doutt; Susan R. Emmons; David R. Fine; Amy Clement Foerster; Debra Genevie; Scott Godshall; Amy L. Groff; Rocco Haertler; William Harvey; Keenan D. Holmes; Cheryl P. Jacobs; Kelley & Polishan L.L.C.; William Knecht; Gary M. Lang; Michael S. Lazaroff; Terence O'Halloran; Powell Law; Carl Primavera; Patrick Quinn; Christopher M. Reid; David Richman; Jen Robb; Anne M. Shepard; Stella L. Smetanka; Edward Stokan; Colleen R. Stumpf; WCBA Pro Bono Committee; David R. Warner Jr.; Jaime L. Wertz; Richard J. Wiest; Robert J. Williams; and D. Patrick Zimmerman.

The awards were presented on Sept. 22 during Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network's Statewide Training Conference held in Harrisburg.

"There are always a select few willing to go above and beyond the call of duty," said Clifford E. Haines, PBA president. "They are the true heroes of our profession and represent the finest tradition of Pennsylvania lawyers. Each of the award winners is one of those true heroes, and we are proud to honor each of them."

For more information on the Pro Bono Awards, please contact the PBA's Gabriele Miller-Wagner at 1-800-932-0311, Ext. 2297. 

Photos from the Awards Presentation 

PBA News Release on Judge's Award
PBA News Release on Civil Legal Aid Attorney of the Year