Title
To honor Robert Southers of Franklin County Municipal Court for receiving the fifth annual Alli Gerkman Legal Visionary Award.
Body
WHEREAS, Robert Southers is the Director of the Franklin County Municipal Court Self-Help Center and Dispute Resolution Department; and
WHEREAS, the Alli Gerkman Award showcases innovators, risk-takers, visionaries, and emerging leaders who bring a unique perspective to the improvement of the legal system; and
WHEREAS, Southers has been a transformative force in Ohio’s legal community, helping to expand the services of the Self-Help Center to provide critical support for self-represented litigants; and
WHEREAS, under his leadership, the center has grown from serving 732 people annually to supporting approximately 30,000 people each year, becoming one of the nation’s most thriving self-help centers; and
WHEREAS, Southers’ efforts have helped tens of thousands of individuals access user-friendly legal resources and achieve fair outcomes; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That we do hereby extend our congratulations to Robert Southers and the Franklin County Municipal Court Self-Help Center for receiving the Alli Gerkman Legal Visionary Award.