Judge Colleen A. Falkowski and the staff of the Domestic Relations Court congratulate the winners of this year’s President’s Award and Liberty Bell Award, presented during the Lake County Bar Association’s annual Law Day Breakfast on May 1, 2018.
Liberty Bell Award winner Caroline “Connie” Luhta, the owner of Concord Air Park and Concord Township trustee, was honored for her service to the legal community over the years, serving on the Grievance Committee as the non-lawyer member.
President’s Award winner Attorney Michael Lucas was honored for his years of legal practice, along with the respect and collegiality that he fosters in the legal community. The award is given to a local attorney who has provided outstanding leadership and service to the community and within the legal profession.
Ohio Supreme Court Justice Patrick Fischer gave the keynote address, in which he discussed the meaning of the doctrine of Separation of Powers, and especially the importance of the Judicial Branch. He paid homage to the Founding Fathers who crafted our system of government with intrinsic checks and balances; thanked all of the members of the judiciary in attendance; and expressed a hope for a better understanding of these coequal branches in the future.
Below are some images from this event.
Connie Luhta Mike Lucas
Mike Lucas Justice Patrick Fischer
Lake County attorney Jessica Wright, who serves as Guardian ad Litem on cases in the Lake County Domestic Relations Court, received the Child Advocate of the Year Award, given at the Lake County Job and Family Service’s Pinwheels for Prevention Program, part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
The video is available here:
Judge Falkowski spoke at the annual Pinwheels for Prevention program on April 11, part of Nation Child Abuse Prevention Month. She asked all residents of Lake County to be vigilant and look out for the safety of children in our community. Each pinwheel planted outside the Lake County Department of Job and Family Services represents a Lake County child who has been served throughout the prior year. The full article is available here.
Judge Falkowski participated in the annual Pinwheels for Prevention program as part of Nation Child Abuse Prevention Month. The pinwheels represent Lake County children who have been served by the Lake County Department of Job and Family Services throughout the prior year. The full article is available here.
Atticus has been a member of the Lake County Court of Common Pleas since 2016. An article about him can be found here.
Judge Falkowski was part of a panel of women leaders who spoke at a United Way Women’s Leadership Council event. The full article is available here.
The Lake County Domestic Relations Court was the recipient of a technology grant from the Supreme Court of Ohio for the purchase of a printer to create domestic violence civil protection order identification cars. The full article is available here.
Lake County Domestic Relations Judge Colleen A. Falkowski is the recipient of the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation’s 2015 Presidential Award for Pro Bono Service. She received the award during the Ohio State Bar Association’s Annual Meeting and Convention. The full article is available here, with more information here.
The Ohio Supreme Court’s Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor recognized Lake County Domestic Relations Court Judge Colleen A. Falkowski on her pioneering legal clinics. The Clinics bring together volunteer attorneys and low-income individuals who could not otherwise afford legal services for help filing their divorces. The full article is available here.
The Ohio Supreme Court’s Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor recognized the Lake County Domestic Relations Court’s pioneering “What About Me?” program for children whose parents are divorcing in her State of the Judiciary Address. Full article is available here.
