by Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff Writer
At one time, the Pro Bono Committee and the Guardian Ad Litem Committee of The Jacksonville Bar Association were separate entities.
But 18 months ago they merged, creating the Pro Bono/Guardian Ad Litem Committee.
“The two committees are now combined and we try to enhance those activities by the bar,” said Donnie MacKenzie, chair of the committee. “We try to enhance pro bono services to the needy and guardian ad litem efforts on behalf of children and others in need of a guardian.”
The Pro Bono Subcommittee’s goal is to provide free legal services to those who cannot otherwise afford legal representation.
“The Pro Bono Committee tries to get the word out and create opportunities for less fortunate folks to get legal representation,” said MacKenzie.
The Guardian Ad Litem Subcommittee is designed to help guardian ad litem efforts with the court systems. A guardian ad litem is a person who is appointed by the court to act in the best interest of a person, usually a child, involved in either a domestic setting or a social services setting that needs a friend or a guardian who can advocate on behalf of that child.
“Essentially the committee tries to oversee those efforts and help out as much as possible,” said MacKenzie. “It tries to provide attorneys who are willing to act as a guardian ad litem in cases for court appointments.”
There are about 20 attorneys on the committee.
MacKenzie said the purpose of the committee is to promote good will in the community and try to give something back.
“Jacksonville has a tremendous legacy of having a bar association that is active in trying to help its community and these are just two programs that the bar is trying to help the community with,” said MacKenzie.
The 20 members are divided among two subcommittees. MacKenzie oversees the Pro Bono Subcommittee and Brian Cabrey heads the Guardian Ad Litem Subcommittee.
The members meet about three or four times a year to report on things that they are doing.
As chair, MacKenzie’s job is to oversee the entire committee and to do as much as he can to promote equal justice under the law. He has been the chair for about 10 years.
“What is important to the group is what is important to the association as a whole,” said MacKenzie. “I think lawyers in general get a bad name and bad reputation because we don’t publicize what we try to do and what we do in fact do for the community. Pro bono is a perfect example of one of those things that lawyers do that they don’t get credit for. Pro bono and community service are things that the lawyers take an oath to uphold. It all comes down to equal justice for all.”