John J. Martino grew up in Ormond Beach, Florida and went to the University of Central Florida where he majored in political science and helped run a successful voter registration drive during the 2008 presidential election cycle. John worked for the Washington Nationals baseball team during Spring Training internship program in Viera, Florida before attending the Florida International University College of Law, where he graduated in 2013. After passing the bar, John worked as an Assistant State Attorney for nearly five years in Volusia County where he honed his trial skills, before switching fields to work with Community Legal Services’ Family Law Unit which represents survivors of Domestic Violence in injunction and family law matters. After four years helping survivors, John was promoted to the position of Director of Advocacy in December of 2022 and assumed the Director of Litigation role in May 2024. As a leader at CLS, John has focused on working with seniors displaced by Hurricane Ian, developing a Disaster Legal Services program, and recently helped make national headlines by successfully obtaining an injunction against elder exploitation against a sitting Orlando City Councilwoman who had been financially exploiting a 96-year-old constituent. John has a passion for trial advocacy and for the mission of CLS of providing legal access for all.
Legal aid leaders from Florida and Illinois reflect on four years of remote court and consider the benefits and limits of virtual appearances, as well as the inconsistent policies surrounding them on...
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