Washburn Student Bar Association Donates Barrister Ball Proceeds to Court Appointed Special Advocates and Kansas Legal Services
Juliette Morrow, second year law student and chair of the Barrister's Ball and Charity Auction, presented donations in the name of Washburn Student Bar Association (WSBA) to the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and to Kansas Legal Services, Inc. on February 16, 2001 in the Robinson Courtroom at Washburn University School of Law. Both are Topeka area organizations. Kansas Legal Services, Inc. was represented at the ceremony by Larry Rute, General Counsel. CASA was represented by: Sue Lockett, Director; Becky Iams, Board President; Jean Mille, CASA Recruitment and Training; and Judy Holinder, Resource Development Director.
Each fall, Washburn University School of Law holds an event known as the Barrister's Ball and Charity Auction. Law students volunteer to solicit professors, staff, and local merchants for donations that will be used as auction items to raise money for charitable concerns. The volunteers also organize a semi-formal ball, which includes food, music, dancing, and a live auction. During the week prior to the ball, students, professors and staff are encouraged to participate in a silent auction. This silent auction continues throughout dinner at the Barrister's Ball. Following dinner, two professors don their auctioneer hats and try to raise the bids of the most popular items through a live auction.
Proceeds from the Fall 2000 event amounted to more than $10,000, a record for the Barrister's Ball. At the encouragement of Professor Bill Rich, both CASA and Kansas Legal Services were considered as potential recipients of donations. The Barrister's Ball Committee recognizes that both organizations perform valuable services to the Topeka community and shows its support by donating $5,000 to each organization.
CASA provides volunteers who are appointed by the Court to advocate for the best interests of a particular child. These volunteers have the responsibility of ensuring that their child's right to a safe, permanent home is protected and serve as the eyes and ears of the court.
Kansas Legal Services, Inc. provides equal access to justice for persons not able to pay for legal and other essential services. Kansas Legal Services is a vehicle for keeping many low income people from falling permanently into the category of chronically poor. Kansas Legal Services focuses its efforts on special needs individuals, such as victims of domestic violence, the elderly, farmers, those with disabling conditions, individuals seeking access to health care and persons who need training and employment services.
Thanks are extended to the group of volunteers who helped to make the Barrister's Ball and Charity Auction a success, as well as to professors and staff, area merchants, and other legal groups, including BALSA, Phi Alpha Delta, Phi Delta Phi, WSBA, ABA, BarBri, Lexis, and Westlaw.
Story based on speech by Julliette Morrow at presentation ceremony.
