The State Bar of Texas Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee announced its 2026 Pro Bono Excellence Award winners.
Judge Gloria E. Lopez, of Houston, received the Judge Merrill Hartman Pro Bono Judge Award; Penny Robe, of Richardson, received the Frank J. Scurlock Award; Garth Corbett, of Austin, received the J. Chrys Dougherty Award; and the Dallas office of O’Melveny & Myers received the W. Frank Newton Award.
The recipients will be formally recognized during the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting on June 11-12 at the Marriott Marquis in Houston.
Judge Merrill Hartman Pro Bono Judge Award—Judge Gloria E. Lopez
The Judge Merrill Hartman Pro Bono Judge Award honors a sitting or retired judge who has provided exemplary pro bono service, including outreach to attorneys to increase the quantity and quality of pro bono representation; modifications to court processes to increase access to justice; advocacy on behalf of access to justice; service as a volunteer judge for pro bono clinics; or other pro bono proceedings. Judge Lopez has devoted her career to advancing service within the legal profession through judicial leadership, legal education, attorney training, and bar involvement, earning recognition as the 2025 Judge of the Year by the State Bar of Texas Hispanic Lawyers Section for her commitment to the profession and access to justice. As a council member of the Hispanic Lawyers Section, she helped lead fundraising efforts for the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, contributing to the most successful “LAWtería” event in the organization’s history in 2025. She also volunteers extensively with the American Bar Association’s Children’s Immigration Law Academy and the State Bar of Texas Family Law Essentials Seminar, supporting pro bono representation and fairer outcomes for underserved communities.
Frank J. Scurlock Award—Penny Robe
The Frank J. Scurlock Award honors an individual attorney in good standing who has provided outstanding pro bono work. Penny Robe was recognized for her unwavering dedication to expanding access to justice and ensuring that marginalized individuals receive the legal assistance they need. A U.S. Air Force veteran who served on active duty for almost six years, Robe’s dedication to serving her country and community has been the driving force behind her inspiring legal career. In the past year, she provided hundreds of hours of pro bono assistance to an indigent, disabled Norwegian citizen who had overstayed his visa and was a ward of the court in Denton County, ultimately escorting the ward home to Norway and assisting him in obtaining emergency mental health assistance, according to a press release.
J. Chrys Dougherty Award—Garth Corbett
The J. Chrys Dougherty Award recognizes an outstanding legal services staff attorney. Garth Corbett, of Disability Rights Texas, has devoted his entire career to advocating for the rights of people with disabilities with a particular focus on representation on behalf of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He has worked tirelessly for decades to ensure that people with disabilities have opportunities to live safely in the community with all the services they need. As a direct result of his zealous advocacy, countless people with disabilities have been able to safely transition from institutions to live in the community and are receiving the services and support to which they are entitled.
W. Frank Newton Award—O’Melveny & Myers, Dallas
The W. Frank Newton Award recognizes the pro bono contribution of attorney groups whose members have made an outstanding contribution in the provision of, or access to, legal services to the poor. The Dallas office of O’Melveny & Myers is celebrated for its commitment to pro bono service. In 2025, O’Melveny attorneys opened 335 new pro bono matters. The firm has spent more than 5,000 hours helping veterans pursue discharge upgrades with the National Veterans Legal Services Program and nearly 500 hours fighting for a death row inmate’s life with Texas Defender Services, according to a press release.