Justice Christopher Shea Nickell, who represents much of western Kentucky on the state Supreme Court, recently spoke at the Owensboro Lions Club, emphasizing the importance of maintaining civility and practicing service [fcd50105]. He highlighted the value of treating others with respect, even when there are disagreements. Nickell believes that this trait should be adopted by more Americans.
In a similar vein, attorney Lester Thompson is one of about 150 volunteers with the Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyers Project, which helps the underserved through pro bono civil cases. The volunteers work on about 600 civil cases each year, assisting in situations like divorce, fraud, and sealing criminal records. Clients come from a seven-county area in Ohio and have a maximum household income of 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines [a98a009f].
The Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyers Project is affiliated with Legal Aid of Western Ohio. Potential clients first call the Legal Aid Line to be screened for eligibility. Thompson, who was named the 2023 GDVLP Outstanding Volunteer of the Year, spends at least 100 hours annually volunteering with the organization. The organization fills a demand, but many people are unaware of it. Summer Hawks, the executive director of the organization, praised the generosity of the volunteer legal professionals and wants to ensure they are recognized for their selflessness in providing these services [a98a009f].