AUGUSTA — The Legislature on Tuesday honored the second Mainer ever to be picked to head the American Bar Association.

The Maine House and Senate passed a joint resolution Tuesday to recognize Robert E. Hirshon’s nomination as president-elect of the lawyers’ association. Hirshon, a Portland lawyer, will take the post in August 2001.

Hirshon has been recognized nationally for his pro bono work, or work done for free for those in need. He hopes to highlight pro bono work while serving as ABA president, he said.

The Mainer hopes to make small community values and the voice of smaller law firms more prominent in the organization, which has about 400,000 members.

— From the Associated Press