The president of Thomas Jefferson School of Law’s Student Bar Association, third-year student Martin Stratte, has been recognized as the San Diego County Public Safety Group County Volunteer of the Month for September 2011. Stratte was publicly honored and awarded with a special plaque at the Sept. 13 regular meeting of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors at the County Administration Building.
As a legal intern with the San Diego County Office of the Public Defender (SDCPD), Stratte volunteered more than 400 hours to the office from January through July of this year. At the awards presentation, he was praised for his work ethic, dedication and the many detailed projects he has completed for the SDCPD, including an important one that he continued to work on at home while recuperating from an illness that required hospitalization.
"It is an honor to be recognized by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors,” said Stratte. “Thank you to the County of San Diego Public Defender's Office for allowing me the privilege to volunteer in their office and receive instruction from top-rate attorneys."
“Marty’s award and recognition is especially significant because his volunteer contributions were compared with other volunteers in the San Diego County Public Safety Group (11 Departments), including the District Attorney’s Office, Probation Department, and Sheriff,” said Michael Begovich, Deputy Director of the Office of Assigned Counsel.
The SDCPD nominated Stratte for the award by enlisting responses from the entire organization. Nominations are based upon an intern's hours volunteered to the SDCPD, the quality of his/her work, and his/her dedication to their respective branch. As the SDCPD’s selected candidate, Stratte then competed for the Volunteer of the Month award against candidates from the 10 other branches in the County’s Public Safety Group. The other branches include: Child Support Services, Citizen’s Law Enforcement Review Board, District Attorney, Juvenile Justice Commission, Law Library, Medical Examiner, Office of Emergency Services, Probation, San Diego County Regional Fire Authority and Sheriff.
