County Lawyers Accept Service Award Before A Jury of Their Peers

Deputy Public Defenders Frank Barone (right), David Lamb and Randy Mize (left) pose with former Chargers cornerback Quentin Jammer at one of their outreach charity golf tournaments.

A San Diego County deputy public defender and a deputy district attorney were each honored with a 2013 San Diego County Bar Association Service Award and are both featured in this month’s San Diego Lawyer magazine.

The two were among 10 recipients selected countywide.

Deputy Public Defender Frank Barone, 42, who has worked for the Office of the Primary Public Defender for 15 years, was chosen for his work as a founding member of the Public Defender Community Outreach Program, a volunteer charity organization composed of Public Defender staff.  

“We do some great work and we’re certainly proud of it,” he said of the outreach organization.

Barone said someone submitted his name for the award without telling him and he got a call letting him know he’d been selected for it while he was on vacation. He gives the outreach program credit for the honor but clearly he has strong ideals about public service.

 “As members of the Bar, we have the unique opportunity to use our education, specialized knowledge and influence within the community to help others. We should feel compelled to use those resources to assist those less fortunate,” he told the magazine.

Barone said he and Deputy Public Defender David Lamb started the program in 2009. The two work with a committee of others in the office to make charitable selections and plan events. All the Public Defender volunteers are involved because they care about helping others, he said.

The organization’s flagship charity event is a golf tournament that benefits the San Pasqual Academy, the County-operated residential high school for foster children.  In the four years since it formed, the organization has raised nearly $100,000, he said.

The outreach organization has also branched out to include fundraising for other charitable organizations such as Reality Changers, Outdoor Outreach, Village of Promise, and the San Diego Mock Trial Competition, Barone said.

To learn more about the work done by the Public Defender Community Outreach Program, visit http://www.pd-outreach.org/.

Deputy District Attorney George Loyd accepts his service award for his work with the Veteran's Court.Deputy District Attorney George Loyd also accepted an award for his instrumental role in launching Veterans Court, was which offers tailored treatment to non-violent veterans who are going through the criminal justice system.

“I’m honored to be recognized for this pilot program, which has already helped dozens of veterans get their lives on track,” said Loyd. “This program saves money for San Diego County in the long run and addresses some of the issues faced by veterans, including post-traumatic stress disorder.”

The program began in 2011 and helps combat veterans avoid costly incarceration and divert them to mental health treatment programs to help them become productive citizens. The court is a collaborative effort that includes the Superior Court, District Attorney’s Office, Defense Bar, treatment providers and the California Veteran’s Legal Task Force.

Loyd said the program’s success is also due to his fellow Deputy District Attorney’s Harrison Kennedy and Evan Miller who work alongside him in managing the Veterans Court.

“I’m so proud of Deputy DA George Loyd and all who have worked so hard to make Veterans Court successful in its first year,” said District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. “Our goal is to work together to stop the revolving door to prison. Veterans Court acknowledges the particular challenges faced by the men and women who have served our country while at the same time holding offenders accountable.”

Veterans in the program are monitored with regular court hearings and are supported by Veterans Affairs and other community-based organizations.

 “I think we all have some responsibility to help make this world a litter better place,” Loyd told the magazine.