Caleb Arnold, Esquire, (second from the left) was honored with the eighth annual Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Immigration Law Pro Bono Award on Monday, December 9th at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. Pictured with Arnold are Jonathan Grode (far left) of Green and Spiegel LLC, the award’s sponsor, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner (second from the right) and PBA Director of Pro Bono Services David Keller Trevaskis (far right).
The PBA Immigration Law Pro Bono Award, which is sponsored by the business immigration law firm of Green and Spiegel LLC and coordinated by the PBA Immigration Law Committee, was created to annually recognize the pro bono accomplishments of an individual or organization working with the PBA in immigration law. The award is given to those that have provided a unique service resulting in significant provision of legal services to the neediest of foreign nationals on a pro bono basis or as part of legal aid outreach. The winners are selected in consultation with PBA leadership.
Jonathon Grode, a partner at Green and Spiegel LLC, celebrated Caleb for their service as the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office’s First Immigration Counsel. Balancing sanctuary and safety, Caleb helped immigrants—regardless of status—teel safe participating in the criminal justice system.
Grode said this about Arnold: Caleb embodies the spirit of this award through their public service as well as their time in private practice. To not only be able to help give a second chance to countless immigrants in our community, but also effectuate change on a larger and permanent basis through the creation of a new department within the DA’s office is truly remarkable and commendable.
The award was presented to Arnold at an event in front of family, friends and colleagues. Grode and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner shared remarks about their long histories with Arnold. Grode and Arnold initially met as Temple University Beasley School of Law first year night students 20 years ago. Krasner’s time with Caleb dates back even further, allowing for Grode and Arnold to have held their study group meetings at Krasner’s private practice office.
Arnold concluded the event by speaking about the importance of balancing accountability with consideration of status for immigrant defendants so they are not additionally harmed in the system.
Past winners of the PBA Immigration Pro Bono Award are:
- Judi Bernstein Baker, Executive Director of HIAS (2015)
- Carol Anne Donohoe (solo practitioner), Jacquelyn M. Kline (partner in Cambria & Kline, PC), and Bridget Cambria (partner in Cambria & Kline, PC) for immigration support of detained families in Berks County (2016)
- Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center (PIRC) (2017)
- Ayodele Gansallo, a senior staff attorney at HIAS (2018)
- Wendy Castor Hess, Landau, Hess, Simon, Choi & Doebley (2019)
- Arthur N. Read, General Counsel of Justice at Work (formerly Friends of Farmworkers) (2021)
- Rosina C. Stambaugh, The Law Office of Rosina C Stambaugh (2023)
