Deputy Jorge Godoy wins first Ivelisse Torres Memorial Award

SOMERSET B Jorge Godoy, the Deputy Public Defender in charge of the Cumberland County Region of the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, recently received the inaugural Ivelisse Torres Memorial Award at the OPD's annual conference at the Somerset Marriott Hotel.

Godoy, a 25-year veteran of the statewide agency, was cited by Acting Public Defender Peter A. Garcia during the May 11 ceremonies as "the consummate professional" and "a dedicated, zealous, compassionate and, most of all, modest individual...."

Garcia credited Godoy with creating a highly effective teamwork approach to cases in Cumberland County, forging stronger ties to national legal-defense groups and even pitching in to help try cases in other counties.

"Ivy (Torres) would have been extremely pleased to see Jorge win this award," Garcia said of the former Public Defender who died of cancer last November. "He really does embody all those qualities of hard work, compassion, loyalty and enthusiasm that made Ivy such an outstanding attorney and Public Defender."

For his part, Godoy said his selection for "this humbling, momentous award" was the result of all he had learned throughout a quarter century in the agency.

"I share this award with all those of you here today that exalt quality representation," Godoy said, "a representation that embodies skill, compassion and zealous advocacy. Indeed, these were qualities possessed by our own, dearly departed Ivelisse Torres."

The award was established in memory of Ivelisse "Ivy" Torres, the first career public defender to rise to the top spot in the agency, which was created in 1967. Ms. Torres was sworn into the office's highest post in July 1997. Through much of her tenure in that job, she battled pancreatic cancer, and succumbed to the disease in November 2000.

The criteria for the award include: Being a consistent, zealous and compassionate advocate for clients; behaving in a way that creates a role model for co-workers; exhibiting grace and diplomacy in all situations; and exhibiting conduct that displays the best and brightest in the legal profession.

Godoy said his legal career had been shaped by one simple thought of empathy.

"I have always thought that the only way to fully represent someone, in this context, is to be guided by the maxim, 'There but for the grace of God go I,'" he said. "Beyond his or her own humanity, the client that sits across from us at the table is someone's son or daughter, parent, sibling or relation.

"I am, of course, proud to be a part of the NJ OPD, an organization that continually strives to better its already excellent record of quality representation."