Pictured: Former Client Abdul Fernanders with his attorney, Zenia Laws
Legal Aid would like to extend special thanks to several organizations and individuals who made a unique impact in 2022.
The Lee Horton Memorial Scholarship for Aspiring Public Interest Lawyers was endowed in honor of Lee Horton, a member of the Legal Aid family who died tragically in 2021 one day after his 18th birthday after having a seizure. Lee was passionate about racial justice, something that stemmed in part from the murder of a close family friend, who was a West African immigrant, when Lee was a young child. Lee planned to go to law school after college, with the hope of becoming a public interest lawyer.
Having to take an unpaid internship can create financial hardship for many who would otherwise wish to pursue a career in public interest law. We believe that increasing the number of Black, Indigenous and people of color as well as those with a diversity of lived experiences in the legal profession – and specifically in legal services – should be a high priority.
Initial funding for the Lee Horton Scholarship has been provided by Lee’s parents, Phil and Roberta Horton. Phil started his career as a Legal Aid attorney in Boston and chaired Arnold & Porter’s Pro Bono Committee for many years. He has done extraordinary pro bono work in a range of matters, including representing defendants threatened with the death penalty, and victims of international terrorism. Phil has served on Legal Aid’s Board since 1997, including a term as President. He was honored with the Servant of Justice Award in 2015. Roberta, also a partner at Arnold & Partner, is a longtime pro bono lawyer with Legal Aid. She is an active gun control lawyer as well, working with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence among other groups.
Special thanks to the following donors who contributed to the scholarship fund:
Arnold & Porter LLP
Richard and Emily Alexander
Deborah Boyle
Debbie L. Feinstein
William Garfinkel
Patrick J. Grant
Priscilla and Jay Hoffer
Philip and Roberta Horton
Ellen M. Jakovic
Andrew Karron
Steven & Jacolyn Reade
Ellen Reisman
Rebecca K. Troth
Marsha Tucker
Mark Herzog's husband, Hon. Christopher Costa (r), and their son, Grant (l), at the 2022 Servant of Justice Awards Dinner.
Mark Herzog, who passed away on November 13, 2021 after more than a year-long struggle with glioblastoma, was a highly respected legal services and pro bono leader in the DC community, known for his steadfast commitment to furthering access to justice and providing counsel to individuals, families, and communities who cannot afford to pay for legal representation. Mark was a fierce ally, a champion for justice, and a dear friend to Legal Aid.
Sidley Austin LLP, which has supported a fellowship as part of Legal Aid's Barbara McDowell Appellate Advocacy Project since 2017, named the fellowship the Sidley Austin LLP Appellate Fellowship in honor of Mark E. Herzog this year.
Law Rocks, a battle of the bands featuring musicians from the legal community, returned to DC in September for a rocking night of music and fun. Night Work, a band made up of several Akin Gump attorneys, named Legal Aid their beneficiary and raised more than $23,000. Thanks to bandmates Steve Kho, Tom McCarthy, Scott Alberino, Jennifer Richter, Esther Lander, Matt Nicely, and J.R. Molm for their support.
Legal Aid would like to extend special thanks to Alison DeSilva, who has provided her incredible photography skills to Legal Aid on a pro bono basis since 2020. All the client photos in this year's annual report - and many of the photos on the website - were taken by Alison.
For more information about Alison, please visit her website.
