DPA 2011 Annual Report - Department of Public Advocacy

2011 Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy Awards
On June 15, 2011, the Department of Public Advocacy recognized leaders in Kentucky’s criminal justice system. The
awards were presented before Kentucky public defenders, the Kentucky Board of Governors, and many other Kentucky
criminal justice leaders.
Cat Kelly (L), Missouri State Public Defender, and William T Robinson III (R), President-Elect, ABA
(joined by Edward C. Monahan, center) were the featured speakers at the 38�� Annual Public
Defender Conference Awards Luncheon.
"We [Public Defenders] do not sit down and be silent
when we see injustice...Our job is to make people
uncomfortable. That's the reason we exist."
Cat Kelly
Missouri State Public Defender
2011 Public Advocate Award
Senator Tom Jensen and
Representative John Tilley
In 2011, the Kentucky General Assembly passed House Bill
463, which made 150 pages of progressive, evidence-based
reforms to our drug and penal codes. Several people
contributed in significant ways to bring about these
reforms, but the two men who led the way were the Chairs
of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, Tom Jensen
and John Tilley.
Statesmen John Sherman Cooper and Wendell Ford,
following the tradition of statesman Henry Clay, overcame
great obstacles to help people and advance Kentucky, even
if it was against the winds of the times. These statesmen
worked to do what was right, what was best, and what
would improve the lot of people. Henry Clay said, "Of all
the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is
so highly prized as that of character."
To our 2011 statesmen of high character, Tom Jensen and
John Tilley, we present special Public Advocate Awards for
the passage of House Bill 463.
Commonwealth of Kentucky 18 Department of Public Advocacy
"We thank you for validating in your own way, day in and day
out, the dignity and special responsibility of our legal profession
to support and preserve our Constitutional democracy."
William T. Robinson III, President-Elect
American Bar Association