HARTFORD – The Connecticut Bar Association has named Richard S. Order of Simsbury as the recipient of the Honorable Anthony V. DeMayo Pro Bono Award. The Hartford attorney will receive his award at the Association’s “Celebrate with the Stars” awards ceremony to be held on Thursday, April 8.

Order is a shareholder in the Litigation Department at Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C. in Hartford, where he primarily represents clients in business disputes. He was nominated for the Honorable Anthony V. DeMayo Pro Bono Award by Linda Allard, an attorney with Greater Hartford Legal Aid, in recognition of the pro bono program he instituted at his law firm to help persons of limited financial means obtain domestic violence restraining orders protecting them from their abusers.  

Through this program, Order and Updike Kelly associates have represented dozens of women and their children, as well as several men, who have been physically, verbally, and mentally abused, harassed, stalked, and controlled by domestic partners.   

“It is horrifying to see how domestic abuse persistently threatens families and relationships, regardless of financial situation, education, culture, and ethnicity,” said Order.  “Our clients are so grateful when we go to court with them and help them start on the path to a new life.  Each time we obtain a restraining order, it reminds me of why I went to law school.”

Richard Order and his wife, Denise, are members of Beth El Temple in West Hartford. He serves as treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Mandell Greater Hartford Jewish Community Center (JCC) in West Hartford, and as co-chair of the JCC’s annual Hartford Jewish Film Festival.