WASHINGTON, D.C., April 12, 2013—William K. Weisenberg, assistant executive director for public affairs for the Ohio State Bar Association, will receive the American Bar Association Grassroots Advocacy Award April 16 for his tireless advocacy on behalf of the justice system and the legal profession in Ohio and the nation’s capital.

As a founding member of the Government Relations Section of the National Association of Bar Executives, Weisenberg has promoted the role of lawyers in resolving local and national public policy questions. In issues ranging from the rule of law to the independence of the judiciary, Weisenberg has been a stalwart advocate.

”It is an honor to have served with lawyers, judges, legislators and members of the public in supporting access to justice and promoting a better understanding of our justice system,” Weisenberg said. “When we unite in order to provide justice for all, we are strong and we are mighty. To be part of such a coalition has truly been a privilege.”

Weisenberg serves in the ABA House of Delegates and as special adviser to the ABA Standing Committee on Governmental Affairs. Previously, he served as co-vice chair of the  ABA Task Force on Preservation of the Justice System, which was established in 2010 to address the disastrous consequences of declining state court budgets for families and small businesses, including in Ohio. He also served as chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Judicial Independence from 2008 to 2011.

“For more than three decades, Bill has brought national attention to issues Ohio cares about, including access to court and legal services,” said ABA President Laurel G. Bellows. “His efforts continue to benefit the legal profession and the justice system across the country.”

Weisenberg will receive the ABA Grassroots Advocacy Awards as part of the association’s annual effort to connect policymakers with constituents in the legal profession. ABA Day 2013 brings distinguished lawyers from 50 states to Washington, D.C., to discuss issues such as funding for the Legal Services Corporation and federal judicial vacancies.

The other recipient of the 2013 ABA Grassroots Advocacy Award is Maryland lawyer Kevin L. Shepherd of Venable LLP.

Please click here for a photo of William K. Weisenberg.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is one of the largest voluntary professional membership organizations in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.