The San Bernardino County Bar Association honored probate attorney Donnasue Smith Ortiz with the John B. Surr Award Nov. 9.
“I have always said that the probate bar is a very supportive and collegial group of attorneys. I had some very good examples by attorneys like George Vinnedge, Chuck Althouse, Jeff Banks and many others. Many of those attorneys years ago received the John B. Surr Award also. I tried to follow in their footsteps, to be honorable and to be a mentor and to support other attorneys,” Smith Ortiz said.
Smith Ortiz joined the bar in 1988, and began volunteering as a temporary judge, filling in for judges who could not
