**CALL FOR NOMINATIONS** 2026 Chief Judge’s Pro Bono Bankruptcy Award

2026 Chief Judge’s Pro Bono Bankruptcy Award

The Chief Judge’s Pro Bono Bankruptcy Award is an annual award recognizing a bankruptcy lawyer or a law firm who materially improved access to justice in bankruptcy cases pending before this Court by representing indigent parties or by otherwise facilitating pro bono representation of those in need.

 

Criteria for the Award:

Each award recipient must satisfy the following criteria:

1. The recipient represented indigent parties in cases pending before this Court or otherwise facilitated pro bono representation of those in need in matters before this Court.
2. If an individual lawyer, the recipient is a member of The Florida Bar and is a member of the bar of this Court in each case for at least five years. If a law firm, members of the firm regularly appear before this Court.
3. If based on representing indigent parties, the recipient was primarily responsible for a single outstanding case or achievement or provided distinguished pro bono services consistently over an extended period. If based on facilitating pro bono representation in bankruptcy matters, the recipient’s efforts had a material and quantifiable impact on access to justice before this Court.
4. The recipient acted on a fully voluntary basis and without compensation.
5. The recipient is not employed by the judiciary, a paid staff attorney for legal services, or a member of the academic community.

Nomination Guidelines:

1. Submit a brief narrative detailing how the nominee satisfies the criteria for the Chief Judge’s Pro Bono Bankruptcy Award. Do not include client names or personal information.
2. Provide supporting information and documentation, including principal areas of practice, number of years practicing law, educational background, time spent on pro bono matters, bar association activities, other public service contributions, and similar information as appropriate.
3. Submit at least one, but no more than three, letter(s) of support for the nomination from other individuals or organizations with knowledge of the nominee’s contributions.
4. Self-nominations will be considered.
5. Each nominator is limited to one nomination.
6. Send nominations to Pro Bono Committee Judicial Chair Judge Peter D. Russin at PDR_Chambers@flsb.uscourts.gov no later than September 30, 2026.

More Information:

• 2026 Chief Judge’s Pro Bono Bankruptcy Award
• Letter from Bankruptcy Judge, Laurel M. Isicoff
• Meet your Pro Bono Committee
• Ways to Provide Pro Bono Services
• Pro Bono Opportunities for Lawyers
• Chief Judge’s Bankruptcy Pro Bono Award Recipients