Texas State Bar Honors 2026 Pro Bono Excellence Award Recipients
The State Bar of Texas named its 2026 Pro Bono Excellence Award winners on May 11.
Why it matters: Recognizing pro bono work highlights the legal profession’s crucial role in expanding access to justice for underserved Texans. These awards encourage continued volunteer service in civil legal matters and set examples for peers nationwide.
- Judge Gloria E. Lopez of Houston won the Judge Merrill Hartman Pro Bono Judge Award.
- Penny Robe of Richardson received the Frank J. Scurlock Award.
- Mexican-American Bar Association of Houston earned the Pro Bono Award.
- Hunton Andrews Kurth of Dallas won the W. Frank Newton Award.
The State Bar of Texas Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee revealed its 2026 Pro Bono Excellence Award recipients on May 11. The awards celebrate vital contributions from legal professionals and organizations that advance civil legal access for low-income communities in Texas.
- Judge Gloria E. Lopez of Houston received the Judge Merrill Hartman Pro Bono Judge Award, honoring her commitment to promoting pro bono service from the bench.
- Penny Robe of Richardson was presented with the Frank J. Scurlock Award for her dedication to legal aid and volunteerism.
- The J. Chrys Dougherty Legal Services Award went to Garth Corbett of Austin, recognizing impactful work in civil legal services.
- The Mexican-American Bar Association of Houston was awarded the Pro Bono Award for organizational contributions to legal access for Texans.
- Brittany Krohn, also of Houston, was honored with the Pro Bono Coordinator Award for her leadership in volunteer legal efforts.
- Robert M. Caine of Houston received the Pro Bono Support Staff Award for his behind-the-scenes contributions.
- The W. Frank Newton Award was given to Hunton Andrews Kurth of Dallas for the firm's long-standing support of pro bono initiatives.
The annual Pro Bono Excellence Awards underscore the Texas legal community’s dedication to public service and bolster statewide momentum for closing the justice gap. More details about each award and eligibility are available through the State Bar’s Legal Access Department.