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WILKES-BARRE — The Pennsylvania Bar Association has chosen attorney Garry Taroli, an outspoken advocate for animal rights, as the recipient of its 2016 PBA Pro Bono Award.
Taroli, who lives in Dallas and is a partner at Rosenn Jenkins & Greenwald LLP in Wilkes-Barre, was outspoken about the death of Cecil, a lion who, according to various news accounts, was killed by Walter Palmer, a Minnesota dentist who reportedly paid $54,000 to bow-hunt Cecil.
“While receiving attention for my charitable and community endeavors has not been the reason I have undertaken them, it is nice to receive this type of recognition,” Taroli said.
David Trevaskis, the head of the PBA’s Pro Bono Division in Harrisburg, will present the award to Taroli at the annual meeting of the Wilkes Barre Law and Library Association on Tuesday at noon at the Westmoreland Club, Taroli said.
“I guess you would say I’m just an animal lover,” Taroli said. “I’ve always been naturally drawn to that. Like anything else, if you’re doing something you like, it’s not really work.”
A pet owner, Taroli provides a home to a dog and two cats. He said another dog and a pet rabbit died recently. All of his pets are rescued animals, he said.
Taroli serves as solicitor for Blue Chip Farm Animal Rescue, a no-kill shelter in Orange, and is a former member of the board of directors. He also volunteers as Santa Claus for the organization’s annual Christmas celebration.
Taroli also does pro bono work for other organizations: Back Mountain Youth Soccer, Luzerne County Fair, Keystone State Games and more. He also performed some legal work for the 25th anniversary of Woodstock. He helped get some permits to secure approval for the site and he offered some other legal advice to John Roberts, now deceased, who was one of the four original organizers of the 1969 Woodstock Festival in Bethel, N.Y.
Taroli was heavily involved in the case of Cecil the lion, whose killing sparked an international controversy that brought intense focus to trophy hunting. Taroli was invited to speak at the July 30 rally in Washington, D.C., by the president of Cecil 2016, after seeing stories about Taroli’s interest in the case published in the Times Leader.
He has been a featured speaker at rallies to oppose big game hunting.
Taroli said Cecil was probably the most well-known and most photographed lion in the world until he was lured off the Hwange Animal Preserve at night by a guided hunt group using elephant flesh. Taroli said Cecil was blinded by a spotlight and shot through the throat — while wearing a tracking collar — and left to suffer for at least 11 hours because the shooter and his guide knew the dangers of trying to track a wounded lion at night.
According to a news release from the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the organization’s “Rule of Professional Responsibility 6.1” celebrates “pro bono” service, which is short for pro bono publico, a Latin term that means “for the public good.” Although the term is used in different contexts to mean “the offering of free services,” it has a very specific meaning for those in the legal profession — “pro bono service enhances access to justice for the neediest among us.”
This year marks the 30th year that the PBA has honored lawyers with pro bono awards for enhancing access to justice for the neediest among us.
According to the news release, Taroli’s nominators wrote this: “The best word to describe Garry is ‘passionate’ about animals and children — those without a voice to advocate for or defend themselves.”
Taroli is also:
• Pro bono assistant district attorney in Luzerne County and, as such, handles most of the animal cruelty cases.
• Pro bono solicitor for and a board member of the Luzerne County SPCA.
• Solicitor to Modified K-9 Concrete Angels, a non-profit that specializes in rehabilitating street wild pit bulls and other powerful breeds, handling all of their legal issues.
Taroli said his mission in life is to get the world to “act compassionately.”
The PBA release stated, “Attorney Taroli epitomizes the pro bono lawyer. He does this while maintaining a busy and profitable law practice. He truly is a hero to those who have no voice.”