STATEHOUSE – State Sen. Brent Steele (R-Bedford) and Rep. Eric Koch (R-Bedford) have been named recipients of the 2012 Indiana Pro Bono Commission’s Randall T. Shepard Award for excellence in pro bono publico.

The Bedford legislators were recognized for their support and commitment to passing House Enrolled Act 1049, which secured funding for Indiana’s pro bono district programs.  These programs help provide pro bono legal services to low-income Hoosiers across the state.

“As practicing attorneys, Representative Koch and I understand how critical pro bono work is for the functioning of Indiana’s justice system, which is why we worked to secure funding for pro bono district programs in our state,” Steele said. “I am both humbled and honored to be recognized by my colleagues in the Indiana Bar Foundation for this effort.  The Randall T. Shepard Award is appropriately named in honor of our former chief justice, who continually urged members of our profession to do more to make the courts accessible to those in difficult financial situations.”

"This is a great honor, which I accept on behalf of all of the attorneys in our state who generously volunteer their time helping those in need of legal services,” Koch said. “The pro bono program provides the essential framework to match those Hoosiers in need of services with those attorneys willing to provide them pro bono.  Senator Steele and I recognize the value that this service provides to the underserved in our communities and appreciate the recognition conferred by this prestigious award.

The Indiana Pro Bono Commission is a program of the Indiana Bar Foundation.

                            -30-