2025 Judicial Conference Program

Empowering Justice: The Role of Judges and Civil Legal Services in Streamlining Court Efficiency PAMELA ORTIZ ACCESS TO JUSTICE 187 HARRY S. TRUMAN PARKWAY | ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND 21401

PAMELA ORTIZ is the Director of Access to Justice for the Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts. Her office works to enhance access to the justice system for all Marylanders. The department’s responsibilities include educating the public about how to use the courts, developing resources for the self-represented, and overseeing the Court Interpreter Program. From 2008 through 2014, Ms. Ortiz served as the founding Executive Director of the Maryland Access to Justice Commission. During that period, Ms. Ortiz also staffed the Task Force to Study Implementing a Civil Right to Counsel in Maryland. She served as the founding Executive Director for Family Administration with the Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts from 1999 until 2008. She has also directed the Anne Arundel Pro Bono Program and began her legal career with Maryland Legal Aid. Ms. Ortiz received the Benjamin L. Cardin Distinguished Service Award from the Maryland Legal Services Corp. in 2015. She has also received the Champion of Justice Award from the Equal Justice Council of Maryland Legal Aid (2014), was twice named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women (2014 and 2007), was named a Human Rights & Justice Champion by Maryland Legal Aid (2011) and is a Lifetime Fellow of the Maryland Bar Foundation. Ms. Ortiz holds a law degree from Georgetown University, a master’s degree from the University of Chicago, and a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Empowering Justice: The Role of Judges and Civil Legal Services in Streamlining Court Efficiency AMY PETKOVSEK, ESQ. COMMUNITY LAW CENTER 3355 KESWICK ROAD, SUITE 200 | BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21211

AMY PETKOVSEK, ESQ. is the Executive Director of the Community Law Center, in Baltimore, Maryland. She oversees a team advocating for restoring power to neighborhoods and local communities through innovative legal assistance. Amy was previously the Deputy Chief Counsel at Maryland Legal Aid, where she led zealous civil legal advocacy efforts across Maryland, and directed the development of the Community Lawyering Initiative, Lawyer in the Library and Lawyer in the Schools programs. Prior to serving in this position, she served as Legal Aid’s Director of Advocacy for Training and Pro Bono for five years, and represented children for seven years in Legal Aid’s child advocacy practice. She started her career as an appellate law clerk for the Honorable Sally D. Adkins. Amy is active in the Maryland State Bar Association and the Bar Association for Baltimore City, and she serves on the boards of Moveable Feast, the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law Alumni, and the Carroll County 4-H/FFA Fair. She also actively volunteers with the Carroll County 4-H Residential Camping Program and St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Amy is a member of MIE’s Journal Committee, and is a frequent presenter and collaborator at MIE Supervising Legal Work trainings. She is a past recipient of the Bar Association of Baltimore City’s Government and Public Interest Lawyer of the Year Award, Maryland Legal Services Corporation’s Rising Star Award, The Daily Record’s “20 in their Twenties” and Leadership in the Law awards, the Maryland Legal Aid Diane Kinslow Memorial Award, Maryland 4-H Alumni Award, Carroll County 4-H Fair Hall of Fame, the American Camp Association President’s Award, and is a Fellow in the Maryland Bar Foundation.

MARYLAND JUDICIARY

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