♫What is that
Could it be
The rescue that you need
It’s not a dream, that’s happening…♫

“Follow My Lead” Words and Music by Justin Timberlake.

In my last post Billable Hours Giving Ground I quoted the author and lawyer Scott Turow, who postulated to The New York Times that greed may encourage lawyers to change their payment plans. I found that particular quote to be disheartening and disturbing.

Fortunately today I learned that Ian Cartwright, a retired Ontario Superior Court Judge, gave a personal cheque for one million dollars to The Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted. This donation will provide capital funding and assist in service delivery to reduce time clients may languish in prison while a case for their exoneration is prepared.

I think there are many other examples where lawyers, judges (who once were lawyers) and many others have provided generous gifts and donations to social organizations to allow them to continue to provide services.  For example, Justin Timberlake donated the proceeds of Follow My Lead to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, a charity dedicated to improving pediatric care for sick children.

In both these cases it was generosity, not greed, that was the motivating factor. Especially in these troubled times, we need more people to follow Justin and Ian’s lead.