Richard L. Moore Volunteer of the Year Award

Judge Adele Grubbs Presents the Richard L. Moore Volunteer of the Year Award to Richard's wife, Sherri, and his longtime assistant, Carlyn Campbell, in honor of Richard. Photo by Chandler Bridges.

Each year, the Cobb Justice Foundation selects an exemplary volunteer attorney whose enthusiasm and dedication makes him or her special. In 2009, we lost a longtime time dedicated volunteer: Richard Moore. To honor Richard's decades of service, the Cobb Justice Foundation, along with the Cobb County Bar Board of Trustees, decided to rename our Volunteer of the Year Award after Richard. For all his amazing hard work, it was the least we could do.

The award is given annually at the Cobb County Bar Law Day Awards Luncheon.

1996 Richard Moore   This small firm practitioner has never turned down a pro bono case. He has offered to take at least 12 cases per year since 1993, and the Foundation counts on him to take the hardest cases.

1997 Robert Ingram   Robert was the founder of the Cobb Justice Foundation and not only makes a yearly contribution be also volunteers to accept one case per year. He also makes a point to encourage attorneys to join the Foundation.

1998 Juanita Stedman   Before she became a juvenile court judge, Judge Stedman was a key volunteer in family law can school disicpline cases. This year, she is head of the membership committee and is busy with the 2006 membership campaign.

1999 Melissa Mullin  The Cobb County Bar Association's family law section chairperson in 1999, Ms. Mullin helped develop CJF's grandparent/relative adoption program. She make a point to take pro bono adoption cases befoer moving to Denver.

2000 Moore, Ingram, Johnson & Steele (Firm)  The largest law firm in Cobb, over 75% of Moore, Ingram, Johnson and Steele held CJF memberships in 2000. Led by Robert Ingram, the firm encourages its attorneys to do pro bono work.

2001 Dennis O'Brien  An advocate for the "underdog," O'Brien has been a devoted volunteer as long as he has practiced in Cobb. He also is a big help in recruiting attorneys.

2002 Mike Brewster  Dealing mainly in Social Security law, Mr. Brewster has taken well over 100 cases from Legal Aid. Mike is one of the people you know you can call on.

2003 Debbie Pelerose   Ms. Pelerose was our volunteer during our 10 year anniversary. She has been a faithful member of the CJF and accepted cases for the entire 10 years.

2004 Diane Woods   A partner in the Huff, Woods and Hamby firm, Diane not only accepts cases in family law but she is also generous with her time and has presented two CLE courses for the Foundation

2005 David Hartin  Mr. Hartin has been a wonderful volunteer and has been an asset to us in family law cases and with our Grandparent/Relative Adoption program.

2006 Doug Hill Mr. Hill is a long-time CJF volunteer. He was instrumental in the development and delivery of CJF's Family Law Pro Se Workshops.

2007 James Ausenbaugh Mr. Ausenbaugh was nominated as volunteer of the year by Dennis O'Brien, one of CJF's original volunteers. Mr. O'Brien nominated Mr. Ausenbaugh for his representation of a great-grandmother in her efforts to adopt her great-grandson. Mr. Ausenbaugh continued to support and help the family beyond the scope of his representation.

2008 The Hon. Kelli Wolk. Before Judge Wolk assumed the bench as Cobb County's Probate Judge, Judge Wolkd was CJF's most reliable probate and elder law volunteer and advisor. We are fortunate to have her leading the Probate Court, but we miss her as a volunteer.

2009 Richard L. Moore (posthumously). Before Richard passed away in July 2009, Richard dedicated countless hours to the most complicated and challenging family cases we could send him. He was the recipient of our first Volunteer of the Year Award, and we could have given it to him again and again. We miss him greatly.