PRESIDENT’ S MESSAGE
PRESIDENT’ S MESSAGE
Honoring Public Service: Spotlight on Unsung Legal Heroes
Antony " Tony " Ryan Regional Counsel, Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, Fourth District Court of Appeal Region.
The following is part of a continuing series by Jean Marie Middleton, Esq.- PBCBA President
In keeping with my theme of“ Honoring Public Service,” and the Bar’ s mission of enhancing the public’ s understanding and awareness of the legal system, I am proud to highlight an unsung hero who exemplifies quiet dedication to service through law.
Meet Antony“ Tony” Ryan, a Champion of Public Service by Leading with Purpose in Indigent Defense.
For the past fourteen years, Tony Ryan, a Palm Beach County attorney, has served as the director or“ Regional Counsel” of the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, 4th DCA Region, a not-so-well known agency which, nevertheless, plays an important part of the justice system in our state.
The Regional Counsel Agencies: A Vital Role in Florida’ s Justice System Often abbreviated as“ ORCC” or simplified to the“ Office of Regional Counsel,” it functions as a public law firm for indigent people entitled to court-appointed counsel in criminal cases and in a wide array of civil cases as well. In criminal cases, think of ORCC as a secondary Public Defender’ s office: the agency is appointed to clients whose cases would be a conflict of interest for the Public Defender’ s office to keep. Like the PD’ s office, ORCC handles every type of criminal case, from misdemeanors to first degree murder. In civil cases, ORCC is a first-tier defender’ s office: when an indigent person is in jeopardy of losing rights of a civil nature, ORCC is appointed. Civil cases include guardianship and Marchman Act cases, but the primary role of ORCC is representing poor parents accused of neglect and abuse in dependency and termination of parental rights cases initiated by the Department of Children and Families. The“ regional” dimension to the agency is that there are five ORCCs in Florida. Our local ORCC shares the same geographic jurisdiction of the 4th DCA and operates in Broward County, Palm Beach County, and the four counties of the 19th Circuit.
Client-Centered, Innovative Representation At the time of his appointment( by Governor Rick Scott) in December 2011 to lead ORCC, Tony was serving as a division chief in former Public Defender Carey Haughwout’ s office. Tony considers Carey both a mentor and role model, and, like Carey, his career has become dedicated to indigent defense. Tony’ s philosophy as Regional Counsel is clear: every client of the agency deserves assertive high-quality representation.“ Our mission,” he says,“ is to be clientcentered and to tailor our advocacy to each client’ s circumstances.” To enhance the representation ORCC provides to parents in dependency matters, Tony developed a Social Services Unit which incorporates experienced social workers and parent peer advocates into the attorney-client relationship. This best-practices model builds trust and engagement and improves parents’ chances at being safely reunified with their children.“ We work closely with social workers and community partners to secure services and support that make a real difference in our clients’ lives.”
Leadership and Teamwork As the Director of ORCC, Tony takes a hands-on approach to administrative matters including budget and staffing, and the agency has grown during his tenure to a staff of 130 employees, including more than 80 attorneys. But it is the client-centered emphasis Tony has instilled which characterizes his leadership, and under his direction the agency has developed a culture of professionalism and shared purpose. Many of the attorneys and staff have joined the agency from private practice. At ORCC, those who are drawn to public defense advocacy are able carry out the difficult, but meaningful work in a supportive office environment of camaraderie and teamwork. In a system where resources are often stretched thin, Tony says“ We deliver more with less,” acknowledging that funding and resources remain an ongoing challenge.“ But our people stay on because they believe in what we do and they have their colleagues to lean on.”
A Life Dedicated to Service— and Balance Tony’ s family moved from New England to Tequesta in 1974, and Tony is a proud product of Palm Beach County’ s public schools-- Jupiter Elementary, Middle & High. Afterward, he attended Boston College and Creighton University School of Law, returning home in 1991. He says it’ s hard for him to believe he has been an attorney for 34 years. Tony shies away from attention, but, quietly, he has built a legal legacy rooted in service, leadership, and integrity. He and his wife, Attorney Pamala Hanna Ryan, are the proud parents of three children and find themselves new“ empty nesters” with their youngest recently heading off to college. Tony also finds the time to stay physically active with swimming, running, and an occasional local triathlon. That same discipline and determination fuel his professional life, where he continues to set a standard for excellence in public service.
Tony Ryan is the definition of a public servant: steady, thoughtful, and driven by purpose. His journey reminds us that leadership doesn’ t always happen in the spotlight— but its impact can be far reaching.
PBCBA BAR BULLETIN 3