In honor of National Celebrate Pro Bono week, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona recognizes the exceptional commitment and efforts of bankruptcy attorneys and their staff in our district who assist self-represented parties.  The District of Arizona has one of the highest self-represented filing rates in the nation. Pro bono volunteers help those debtors and creditors navigate through the complicated bankruptcy system. These attorneys greatly benefit the Court and all its litigants.  Special congratulations to Shawn Stone, 2023 winner of the Honorable Sarah Sharer Curley Self Help Center Award and Kathryn Johnson Finn, 2023 winner of the Eileen W. Hollowell Pro Bono Award.

This is the Court’s twelfth year recognizing bankruptcy attorneys who give back to the community. The pro bono services recognized this year include volunteer commitment to one or more of the following programs: Bankruptcy Court Pro Bono Panel (consultation and representation in adversaries and contested matters); Bankruptcy Court Self Help Center; Friends of the Court Reaffirmation Programs; Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Step Up to Justice and Community Legal Services Volunteer Lawyer debt advice clinic and direct representation of low-income Chapter 7 debtors.  The Court thanks each and every one of the volunteers for their continued support in assisting self-represented parties in our district.