By Mickey Starling Riverbend News
John Booth is one of 21 lawyers soon to be awarded with The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Services Award. The ceremony will be streamed live online by the Supreme Court of Florida on Thursday, Jan. 28, beginning at 3:30 p.m. You can view the ceremony on Facebook, WFSU, Gavel to Gavel, the Florida Channel and YouTube.
This recognition is intended to encourage lawyers to volunteer free legal services to the less fortunate and to raise public awareness of the substantial volunteer (pro bono) services provided by Florida lawyers to those who cannot afford legal fees. The awards will be presented by Florida Bar President Dori Foster-Morales. This annual ceremony recognizes pro bono services in each of Florida's 20 judicial circuits, as well as service by one Florida Bar member practicing outside of the state of Florida. Booth offers his services to Madison, Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Suwannee and Taylor Counties.
Awards recognizing pro bono contributions will be presented in the categories of voluntary bar, law firm, young lawyers division, distinguished judicial service and distinguished federal judicial service. Since the last reporting period, which covered through June 30, 2020, Florida lawyers provided more than 1.2 million hours of pro bono services to those needing legal assistance.
John Booth, a Madison resident, retired as assistant general counsel for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) in 2016, but he didn't retire from helping those in need. After serving the citizens of Florida for 33 years, Booth began serving the low-income community of North Florida as a pro bono attorney, working with Three Rivers Legal Services (TRLS), in Lake City.
As a volunteer, Booth provides legal services to a large number of clients each year by conducting legal research; reviewing criminal records; providing legal advice; and drafting FDLE applications and court pleadings. During the past four years, Booth has assisted 73 clients in seeking to clear their criminal histories in order to obtain gainful employment and/or decent affordable housing. He has contributed approximately 46 hours of legal service to the low-income community of the Third Judicial Circuit in the past year.
Booth earned his Juris Doctorate degree in 1979, from the University of Florida in 1979. He also earned his Bachelor of Arts in English in 1971, from Florida State University (FSU). After graduating from FSU, he served as a captain in the US Air Force from 1973 to 1976.
Booth felt honored to be receiving an award for his voluntary services. "I was surprised because I'm retired," said Booth, who is not one to seek the limelight. "Three Rivers Legal Services provides important work and services to their clients, and I am glad to be a part of that." He and his wife, Joanna, are members of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, in Madison.