Mitchell Roth Service Award

Pablo Ramirez, Esq.

2024-2025
Mitchell Roth Service Award

Pablo Ramirez’s journey is a testament to resilience, dedication, and the relentless pursuit of justice. Born to a low-income, undocumented single mother who later became a citizen, Pablo grew up witnessing the harsh realities faced by those on society’s margins. His mother’s struggles as an undocumented immigrant and limited English speaker deeply influenced his path, imbuing him with a profound empathy for those grappling with similar challenges.

Driven by a desire to enact change, Pablo dedicated himself to serving low-income families. His commitment saw him serving on various boards, tirelessly working to uplift the less fortunate. His efforts were not just about aid, but about empowering communities to find their own footing in a world that often overlooked them.

As a young father, Pablo’s personal life echoed the challenges he fought against professionally. Struggling to understand legal processes to be part of his daughters’ lives, he turned to Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino. With their help, he navigated the complexities of the law, ensuring he could be the father he aspired to be. Raising two strong daughters as a single father, he balanced his burgeoning career with his commitment to his children, involving them in sports and activities that nurtured their growth.

Pablo’s career trajectory reflects his unwavering commitment to justice. In September 2020, he became the Executive Director and Attorney at Law for Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino. Here, he leads a thriving non-profit organization dedicated to providing high-quality legal services to low-income residents of San Bernardino and Riverside County. Under his leadership, the organization has flourished, increasing its financial support and diversifying its funding sources.

His tenure at Legal Aid Society is marked by innovative approaches to legal services. Pablo emphasizes the importance of collaboration, working with local courts, community leaders, and the private bar to bridge gaps in civil legal services. He’s an advocate for using technology to extend legal services to more clients, ensuring that resources, though limited, are maximized for greater impact.

Before his current role, Pablo was a Managing Attorney at Inland Counties Legal Services, where he managed a team of eighteen professionals, providing legal representation in areas of housing and community economic development. His leadership was pivotal in ensuring that the organization’s mission was reflected in its actions and outcomes.

Pablo’s educational background in Organizational Leadership and Communications further complements his professional endeavors. As a member of the Elimination of Bias Committee at the San Bernardino Superior Court, he works towards creating a fair and unbiased legal system. His involvement with the Design Thinking Advisory Board at the University of California, Riverside, and his role as a Board Member of the Lions Clubs International showcase his commitment to community service and global understanding.

As the Treasurer of Legal Aid Association of California, Pablo plays a crucial role in overseeing financial strategies and advocating for equal access to justice. His membership on the Community Benefits Initiative Committee at Dignity Health and the San Bernardino County Bar Association board underscores his dedication to health, community engagement, and legal excellence.

Pablo Ramirez’s journey is a powerful reminder that one’s background does not define one’s future. His life is a story of overcoming adversity, a narrative of resilience and hope, and a chronicle of unwavering commitment to justice and community service.

Video coming soon!

Deputy Sherriff Amy Kennedy

2023-2024
Mitchell Roth Service Award

After graduating from high school, Amy Kennedy attended California State University San Bernardino and earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice.  In January 1997 she was hired by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and attended the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Training Academy at the Frank Bland Regional Training Center.In June 1997 she graduated from the sheriff’s basic academy and began working as a Deputy Sheriff. She has worked in various assignments such as corrections, transportation, court services and a temporary duty assignment at Crimes Against Children.

In 2007 she began volunteering with the Debbie Chisholm Memorial Foundation, a law enforcement-based wish granting charity for children battling pediatric cancer.  As a law enforcement volunteer, she made monthly visits to the hospital to grant wishes, both big and small.  After volunteering countless hours granting wishes for sick children, Amy Kennedy was honored to become a board of director for the Debbie Chisholm Memorial Foundation.

In 2019 she began volunteering with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Rodeo as the Youth Outreach Director. With the help of her team, they developed and integrated two youth programs into the rodeo.  The Golden Circle of Champions program brings awareness to pediatric cancer and provides assistance to families who have a child fighting cancer. You may wonder why they call those kids champions.  There is no greater champion than a child fighting for their life.  Each year they choose a child who is battling cancer and make them their V.I.P.  guests at the rodeo.  They also provide them with an all-expenses paid horse camp, horseback riding lessons and a trip to Las Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo where they are able to make memories with their families.  The second program, Saddle Up, is for at-risk youth from the community.  Saddle Up provides an all-expenses paid horse camp, rodeo tickets, boots, jeans, and a month’s worth of horseback riding lessons for the child and their adult mentor.  Horses have proven to be confidence builders and therapeutic which is why at-risk youth are a perfect fit for this program.

In Amy’s free time she enjoys time with family, riding horses and raising livestock. Volunteering has been a blessing because it has allowed her an opportunity to share her passions with others and to make meaningful differences in the lives of those most in need.

Watch online here!

Joyce Holcomb, Esq.

2022-2023
Mitchell Roth Service Award

Joyce Holcomb is a California native.  After graduating from Colton High School, she transitioned to Cal State San Bernardino University. While attending college, she worked as a Legal Assistant for several prominent Family Law attorneys. Ultimately, she graduated from California Southern Law School and has been practicing law since 2006. She has practiced both Probate and Family Law.  In 2012, she became a Certified Family Law Specialist.

Early in her legal career she partnered with Kenneth R. Howe (a reputable Family Law attorney), and they established the firm of Holcomb and Howe, APLC.  Shortly thereafter, she was awarded the Indigent Defense Contract where the firm defended the indigent in contempt cases, represented miliary personnel under the Servicemember Civil Relief Act and acted as Guardian ad Litem for minor children in Paternity cases.

Ms. Holcomb became a solo practitioner in 2012, with her practice’s emphasis being on Family Law.  In addition to representing her clients with the utmost enthusiasm she prides herself on servicing the community at large.

She is a member of the San Bernardino County Bar Association; she is the Family Law Section Chairperson and is the President of The Board of Directors for Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino.

Ms. Holcomb is the proud daughter of Nathaniel and Melba Wilson-Holcomb and is their only child.  She has been happily married to Mr. Darrel Shelton for over 22 years and they have two children and three grandchildren.  She loves spending time with her family and friends.

Her mission in life is to help others in need.

Watch online here!

Mitchell Roth, Esq. (posthumously)

2021-2022
Mitchell Roth Service Award

In December of 2020, our local legal community lost a great lawyer and friend to all.  Mitch lived an amazing life growing up in Manalapan, New Jersey.  He was the son of a lawyer and loved growing up in New Jersey.  His family had season tickets to the New York Giants and Mitch was a lifelong fan.  Mitch loved Bruce Springsteen and attended well over four hundred Bruce Springsteen concerts, most of them right up on the rail by the stage.  This bigger than life man, attended thousands of concerts and sporting events, including World Series games, Super Bowls, and All-Star games in all of the major league sports.  He was an encyclopedia of knowledge in all things related to music, law, and sports.  Mitch always willingly gave his time and money to local not for profit charities.  He served for twenty-five years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Western San Bernardino County Bar Association, and also served as a Board member for the Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino.  Mitch’s sardonic humor was known throughout the courthouses in the Inland Empire, and his wit, intelligence and easy banter made all of us who knew him feel like he was a dear friend.  The professional loss to his clients and our legal community will be felt for many years to come.  Mitchell was truly a great, kind, and caring lawyer.

Several years ago, in 2016, when Mitch was sitting on the Board of Directors of the Western San Bernardino County Bar Association, he along with Angelique Bonanno brought a motion before the Board to honor those in our legal community who go above and beyond in the giving of their time and service.  Due to the recommendation of both Mitch and Angelique, the Service Award was instituted by recognizing an individual in our justice system and was first awarded in 2016.  Since that time, this award has been given in honor of a person who works in our justice system who gives extraordinary efforts to everyone they meet and deal with in providing comfort, compassion, and true justice.

Recently, the Board of Directors of the Western San Bernardino County Bar Association voted unanimously to rename the Service Award as the Mitchell Roth Service Award.  It is somewhat ironic to name an award after this wonderful man who never sought personal praise.  He liked doing his job and working in the background and never sought attention or any honor.  Mitch’s life had such an impact in our legal community and was so exceptional that he deserves the recognition as being one of the best lawyers in generations in our legal community.  Mitch will posthumously receive the newly named Mitchell Roth Service Award this year at our Judicial Awards Ceremony. We know that Mitch would be humbled, honored, and deeply proud to know that his impact on his clients, other lawyers, and judges in our system of justice was so great that his name will now be synonymous with a lifetime of doing good deeds for those in our legal community.

To Mitchell’s family, we cannot thank you enough for sharing Mitchell with us.  He lived a great life but left us way too early.  Rest well, Mitch, we love you dearly.