Awarded to recognize extraordinary contributions by an Arizona Attorney in making legal services available to persons who otherwise could not afford them, and thereby to focus public awareness on the substantial voluntary services by Arizona attorneys in this area. Renamed in 2000 to honor the memory of William E. Morris, a long-time attorney for the poor in Arizona.

Nominations are due March 1st and are to include the individual's name; firm if applicable; address & other contact information; the award for which they are being nominated and contact information of the nominators; a summary of their characteristics, experiences, and service that qualifies them for the award; and support letters from others may be included. The nomination packets should be sent to The Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, ATTN: Kevin S. Ruegg, 4201 N. 24th Street, Suite 210, Phoenix, AZ 85016 or email to info@azflse.org.

Awards Acknowledged in conjunction with the Foundation participation in the annual Arizona State Bar Convention.

J. Robert Walston, Jr.’s legal career was defined by an extraordinary and deeply personal commitment to pro bono service, making him a cornerstone of Arizona’s Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP). After becoming licensed in Arizona in 1990, he began volunteering with VLP in 1994 and remained a consistent, dedicated presence for more than three decades. Through the Family Lawyers Assistance Project (FLAP), he regularly staffed clinics—often multiple times per month and later nearly weekly—providing guidance to hundreds of families navigating complex legal issues without representation.

Walston’s pro bono work extended far beyond brief advice. He routinely accepted full representation of clients who could not afford legal services, often reducing fees to nominal amounts or waiving them entirely. His willingness to take on challenging, long-term cases—including those involving domestic violence, disability, and child welfare—demonstrated both legal skill and profound compassion. In one notable case, he represented a vulnerable client and her children through years of litigation and appeal entirely pro bono, securing a favorable outcome after extensive effort and personal sacrifice.

Clients and colleagues consistently describe Walston as selfless, accessible, and unwavering in his belief that justice should not depend on financial means. He never turned people away, often providing advice, mentorship, or representation regardless of compensation. His legacy is one of service-driven lawyering—transforming lives, inspiring peers, and exemplifying the highest ideals of the profession through a lifetime devoted to ensuring equal access to justice.

Judy has been a wonderful volunteer with Community Legal Services since 1996. For the past 9 years, she has volunteered weekly with their Landlord Tenant Clinic offering brief advice to clients in need of immediate assistance.

Through the years, Judy had gone the extra mile and represented many clients in court. She rarely stops at brief advice and will always do more when she can, to negotiate or at the very least write a letter for a client to try to obtain a favorable outcome.

For many of the years that Ms. O'Neill has been with CLS VLP, she has offered advice through their Attorney of the Day Clinic providing clients assistance in many areas of law. She developed a love for landlord tenant law and in the last 9 years, gave most of her volunteer time to help those clients who were being evicted and or living in uninhabitable conditions. 

Judy has always supported VLP not only as a volunteer, but she also helped recruit other volunteers as well. VLP needs the help of wonderful volunteers to spread the word and encourage other attorneys to join.In addition, Judy has supported VLP at her Inn of Court as well as other programs.

When Judy retired from practice, her volunteer work did not stop,in fact she volunteered more and took on even more clients.

Ms. O'Neill committment to exceptional pro bono service has done so much to increase access to justice for people in Arizona.

2024
Gloria Goldman

2023
Ronda Lustman

2022
Hon. James Conlogue

2021
Nancy Anger

2020
Karen Nygaard

2019
Sesaly Stamps

2018
Nancy Tribbensee

2017
Lee Bennett

2016
Denice Shepherd

2015
Skip Skinner

2014
Katherine McLeod

2013

Stanley Friedman

2012

Rob Ferrier

2011

Ben Smith

2010

David Sanderson

2009

Dean Christoffel

2008

Debra Hill

2007

Cary Inabinet

2006
Tom Roberts

2005
Scott Gan

2004
David Engelman

2003
Pamela Liberty

2002
Alyce Pennington

2001
Luis Ochoa

2000
Steven Cox

1999
Wayne Yehling

1998
Stephen Anderson
& Roy Petty
& Michael McGrath

1997
Christina Urias

1996
Philip (Jay) McCarthy, Jr.

1995
Michael J. Tucker

1994
Dianne C. Kerns (Sole Practitioner)
Robert E. Miles

1993
Hon. Robert W. Pickrell (Sole Practitioner)
Thomas M. Ryan

1992
Rev. David A. Meyers

1991
Lawrence A. Hammond

1990
Nancy M. Coomer

1989
John A. Greene

1988
William T. Birmingham

1987
Ted F. Warner