On May 20, Foundation leaders joined the Ohio State Bar Association at the Ohio Statehouse to celebrate excellence in the legal profession. The Foundation was pleased to recognize three outstanding legal advocates: state Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson with the Voice of Justice Award; Ohio Legal Help with the inaugural Dick Pogue Access to Justice Award; and Greg Reichenbach with the John C. and Ginny Elam Pro Bono Award.
The Foundation created the Voice of Justice Award in 2015 to recognize a person or organization that demonstrates outstanding leadership and advocacy on behalf of low-income Ohioans who may need legal assistance to live stable, healthy, and financially secure lives.
Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson has consistently demonstrated a commitment to empowering Ohioans and improving their quality of life. As a Reginald Heber Smith Fellow, Sen. Hicks-Hudson began her career at Toledo Legal Aid Society, representing senior citizens and working with several community groups as a community organizer. She has focused much of her career on addressing the challenges that people, especially young people, face with the legal system.
Sen. Hicks-Hudson is trained in mediation and advocates for neglected and underrepresented youth as a Court Appointed Special Advocate-Guardian ad Litem. Recently, she championed legislation to modernize and improve Ohio’s domestic relations law. Senate Bill 174 will recenter domestic relations law on the best interests of the child and encourage parents to cooperate in shared parenting that benefits their children.
“Senator Hicks-Hudson’s career as a legal aid attorney, family law practitioner, law professor, Guardian ad Litem, and public servant has had an immeasurable impact on access to justice in Ohio,” said the Foundation’s Executive Director Angie Lloyd. “The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation is proud to recognize her contributions with the 2026 Voice of Justice Award.”
The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation annually presents the Denis Murphy, Dick Pogue Access to Justice, Elam, Rising Star, and Voice of Justice awards to outstanding leaders. Learn more about the Foundation’s awards.