Of Counsel - Volume 24

of COUNSEL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Interim Dean: Malik C. Edwards

Director of Marketing and Communications: Terri Godwin Hyman

University Program Specialist: Karuna Rekhraj

Editor: Betsy Adeboyejo

Contributing Photographer: DeAndres Royal Illustration and Printing: Progressive Business Solutions

The NCCU School of Law publishes the Of Counsel Magazine. This

Publication is supported by the Title III Program. Approximately 1950 copies of this issue were printed at the cost of $6.25 each.

Address: North Carolina Central University School of Law

640 Nelson Street, Durham, NC 27707

Email: ncculawdevelopment@nccu.edu

FROM INTERIM DEAN MALIK C. EDWARDS

I want to take this time to thank you for allowing me to serve as Interim Dean this past year. As Shirley Chisholm reminds us, “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.” This law school has a tradition of preparing servant leaders. In that tradition, I am writing to share with you some important developments and growth that are taking place at NCCU School of Law. We have been working together to enable the Law School to fulfill its mission of providing an outstanding legal education in a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment.

Our goal at NCCU School of Law is to prepare students, not simply to manage the many roles that lawyers play, but to fulfill the responsibilities that clients will entrust to them. Our goal is to prepare you to overcome the challenges that you will face. To improve the lives of the clients you will represent. To make our institution stronger. To help our society find solutions to balancing values of liberty and privacy against the need for security, establishing equality against a history of discrimination, ensuring the fairness of markets, and safeguarding our economy, protecting the environment in the face of climate change, and preserving free expression.

On October 14-15, 2022, we convened our inaugural Tech Law and Policy Center (TLPC) Summit with the country’s top legal experts, policy advocates and technologists, coming together to chart a course to promote technology-related legal policy that is thoughtful and strategic. These discussions will help us to address the technology disparities underrepresented communities face. NCCU School of Law has been a leader in equity and diversity within the legal education field since its founding. The TLPC plays an essential role in developing diverse legal leaders who have the global relevance needed to impact their communities and are practice-ready upon graduation. The Intel Corporation made this Center possible.

Our Social Justice and Racial Equity Institute (SJREI) held its official launch on April 15, 2023.

Inspired in 2020, the SJREI addresses systemic

racism and other forms of inequality through interdisciplinary problem solving that researches the legacy of racial injustice and advances a just and prosperous society for all people. The Institute seeks to advance racial equity and social justice by engaging in holistic interdisciplinary problem solving that offers concrete proposals, policies, initiatives, and legal solutions that help to repair and reverse the legacy of racial and social injustice. SJREI will be guided by values of justice, equality, integrity, collaboration, transparency and vested community engagement that encourages participation and guidance of people directly impacted by racial inequality and social injustice.

SJREI has held empowerment series and community impact initiatives, including a commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Southern Conference on Race, which produced the 1942 “Durham Manifesto.”

We are committed to bringing about meaningful institutional changes that will strengthen and improve the learning environment for all students. NCCU School of Law donors and benefactors help us advance the Law School in important ways. With more than $1,000,000 raised in cash gifts since 2022, I am extremely thankful for the financial generosity that enabled us to launch new initiatives like the SJREI and scholarship opportunities such as the Harry Groves and Harriett Green scholarships. “Giving back” is a simple phrase that makes a big impact. Our highly successful alumni network is strong, spanning all 50 states – and our alums are truly dedicated to NCCU School of Law, and to our students’ success. They are an essential part of our community.

The 2023 Of Counsel Magazine is a terrific celebration of NCCU Law’s past year commemorating many of the people and experiences that make our Law School unique. Our future is bright; and I look forward to what we will accomplish in the next year under the leadership of Former North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson.

Interim Dean Malik C. Edwards NCCU School of Law

CLASS OF 2023

BRITTANY REAVES ’23

AMBER CREFT 3L NEW SBA PRESIDENT

Amber Creft is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, and a graduate of UNCCharlotte. She chose NCCU School of Law because of her late father, alumnus Frank Christmas Creft ‘89.

Creft is following in her father’s footsteps and honoring his legacy. As an attorney he practiced real estate, business, estate planning and personal injury matters. Amber aspires to become an attorney herself; she carries her father’s memory with her every step of the way.

In addition to the many hats Creft wears she is excited to serve as the new SBA president; and looks forward to the opportunity to bring people together this school year.

“My hope is to bring stability and continued transparency as the new SBA President. Not only will we continue to host events that foster a community and familial feel, but we will advocate for the students’ voices. When it’s our turn to leave the Nest, I want us to return and give back. The experience we have here at NCCU School of Law is the experience we will carry with us.”

After graduation, Creft plans to pursue a career in civil rights, public interest law, real estate and housing discrimination and consumer protection.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

LAW STUDENTS RAISE $800 FOR BREAST CANCER

During the Legal Eagle Battle of the Classes (Law Bowl), the 2L Council raised money for Breast Cancer Awareness Month through the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer) Initiative. Making Strides is an affiliate of the American Cancer Society, and has united communities for more than two decades. Because of amazing people just like our students who have donated to this cause, Making Strides continues to improve the lives of breast cancer patients and their families every day. Together, NCCU School of Law students, faculty, and staff donated a total of $800 to Making Strides of the Triangle.

Three Degrees, in 5 years!

Brittany Reaves is a native of Fayetteville, N.C. Following graduation from high school in 2018, Brittany knew that she wanted to pursue a legal education. She saw firsthand the lack of protection and resources provided for lowincome communities. Her way of resolving the issue was to educate herself on the law so that it can be applied in a way that is equal for everyone. She has always been a phenomenal student in the classroom. During high school, Brittany attended

By Darius Stephens-york

Cumberland International Early College High School where she was a part of a dual degree program that afforded her the opportunity to obtain 86 college hours while attending high school. On a debt free scholarship, she earned her bachelor’s degree in history from Fayetteville State University after just one year on campus. Committed to reaching her ultimate goals, Brittany wasted no time and enrolled at NCCU School of Law in August 2019 at just 19 years old. She graduated

with her Juris Doctorate in 2023. Brittany plans to use her history and law degrees to become a legal historian and to focus on the issues that have created struggles in the Black community. She also plans to help to educate the community on how to solve legal challenges and prevent others from arising. For Brittany, being a Legal Eagle means using her law degree to help the community.

LEGAL EAGLES ON THE MOVE

In October 2022, Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development, Donald R. Cravins Jr. visited Durham and NCCU School of Law to learn more about Durham’s Black Wall Street. Cravins was joined by The Honorable H.M. “Mickey” Michaux Jr. ’64, attorney Floyd McKissick and Attorney Larry Hall, former secretary of the North Carolina’s Department of Military and Veteran Affairs.

Professor Lydia Lavelle takes students from her state and local governmental law class to the North Carolina General Assembly to meet with Representative Allen Buansi and legislative staff members. During the visit, Professor Lavelle met four NCCU Law alums from the legislative staff: Jennifer McGinnis (Legislative Analysis), Lisa Wilks, Amy Jo Johnson and Gayle Moses (Bill Drafting).

BRIEFS

LAW DEMS VISIT WITH FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE CHERI BEASLEY

Associate Dean April Dawson was the 2022 Chair of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on Technology, Law, and Legal Education. In recognition of the section’s robust 2022 programming and support of the legal academy, the Section on Technology, Law, and Legal Education was named one of the AALS Sections of the Year.

On September 27, 2022, the Honorable Cheri Beasley, former Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court visited NCCU School of Law students. She spoke about the importance of exercising the right to vote, expanding access to affordable health care and the climate crisis.

The Section of the Year award is granted to one or two of the 107 AALS Sections each year in recognition of excellence in member support and other activities that promote AALS’s core values. “As technology continues to disrupt, influence, and impact the way lawyers practice and what lawyers practice, law schools need to more rapidly adjust law school curricula to ensure law students receive the necessary legal tech training in the form of both law practice technology courses and technology law courses,” says Dawson. “The work of the AALS Section on Technology, Law, and Legal Education is vital. This year, the section continued to increase member engagement, provide teaching support to the entire academy, support technology related legal scholarship, and lead and support efforts to improve legal education. We appreciate the recognition of the important work we do.”

ASSOCIATE DEAN APRIL DAWSON WINS AALS SECTION OF THE YEAR AWARD

DUKE ENERGY AWARDS VETERANS CLINIC $100,000 PRIVATE BOOKER T. SPICELY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

NCCU School of Law was awarded a $100,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation to establish the Private Booker T. Spicely Endowed Scholarship Fund. The scholarship will benefit law students actively involved with and enrolled in the Veterans Law Clinic, and who are working on issues impacting the legal and civil rights of veterans.

In 1944, Spicely, who was stationed at Camp Butner, and on a pass into nearby Durham, was killed for allegedly failing to observe the segregated public transportation laws after boarding a Duke Power Company bus at the corner of Fayetteville and Pettigrew streets. His murder is considered among a series of outrages that contributed to rising activism in the Civil Rights Movement. During the bus ride, the driver, Herman Lee Council, told Spicely along with another Black soldier and a young woman and her son to move to the last seat for white soldiers who boarded, as public transportation was segregated in the state. According to a sworn statement by the young woman, the Black passengers were already in the back area of the bus, and not in the front as reported. The woman moved, but Spicely refused, initially asking the other soldiers why he needed to move since he was not aware of the laws of the state. When Spicely disembarked from the bus, Council followed and shot him twice. Council was tried for second-degree murder of Spicely, but acquitted by an all-white jury on the grounds of self-defense. NAACP Chief Counsel Thurgood Marshall was involved in prosecuting the case.

“Our hope is that the Booker T. Spicely Endowed Scholarship helps commemorate the legacy of Private Spicely, and shines a light on a part of history that deserves acknowledgment,” said Indira Everett, director of government and community relations for Duke Energy. “Knowing the talent and character that comes out of North Carolina Central University, I look forward to the impact this scholarship will have for years to come.”

The scholarship will benefit law students actively involved with and enrolled in the Veterans Law Clinic, and who are working on issues impacting the legal and civil rights of veterans.

“We are honored to collaborate with the Duke Energy Foundation as we further our commitment to those who valiantly protect our country, and have contributed so much to communities across North Carolina and the nation,” Interim Dean Malik C. Edwards said. The NCCU Veterans Clinic is designed to meet the ongoing needs of current and former service members in the state of North Carolina. The clinic handles benefit claims in various stages of appeals. Cases may revolve around disability claims, survivors’ benefits, pension and other issues. Services are free to those who qualify as in need or who are able to meet the financial eligibility standards as determined by the appropriate legal standards.

BRIEFS

1L LAW STUDENTS WIN SEMIFINALS KILPATRICK TOWNSEND MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION

NCCU School of Law team of six 1L law students won the semifinals, and advanced to the championship at the Kilpatrick Townsend 1L Mock Trial Competition held at UNC School of Law in January.

Team members above include: Janayla Brown, Frederick Horne, Sheridan King, Lateef Manigault, Taylor Phillips and Devonte Wilson. Congratulations to Frederick Horne, Sheridan King, Devonte Wilson and Taylor Phillips for receiving the BEST ADVOCATE award during their respective rounds.

The Trial Advocacy Board (TAB) was created to provide students the opportunity to gain skills and experience in trial and litigation techniques. TAB sponsors mock trial competitions, and students compete nationally around the country. NCCU School of Law trial teams have received national recognition. Professor Tamika Moses serves as chair and Professor Dionne GonderStanley as co-advisor.

FUTURE OF CONTRACTS DESIGN DERBY

Law students participated in the Future of Contracts

Design Derby sponsored by the Duke Center on Law & Technology, NCCU Tech Law and Policy Center, Vanderbilt Law School, Integreon, Nelson & Mullins and Latham & Watkins, LLP. During the day-long sprint, students brainstormed ideas for a better future for contract practice through innovation and design. Students explored the annoyances, risks, and challenges of contract notice provisions, and how notice presents unique liabilities and challenges in contract litigation.

The teams designed prototypes of their contract notice solutions. Many focused solutions on small businesses recognizing the lack of access to legal resources, for contract review, negotiation, and contract management. Professor April Dawson, Professor Diane Littlejohn, Professor Dana G. Jones and Professor Cedric Pickett facilitated the Legal Design Derby experience.

NCCU SCHOOL OF LAW LEGAL LEGENDS ORAL HISTORY VIDEO SERIES

The digital collection is comprised of video recordings containing interviews with NCCU Law’s esteemed faculty and alumni.

Listen as Legal Eagles share their personal stories and perspectives about NCCU School of Law, its impact on their legal careers and what makes NCCU Law unique!

Interview participants include: Professor Charles Smith (retired), Professor Phyliss Craig-Taylor, Professor Fred Williams (retired), Professor Irving Joyner, Professor Lydia Lavelle, Professor David Green, Professor Cheryl Amana-Burris (retired) and Associate Dean and Professor April Dawson.

LEGAL EAGLES SOAR

Both teams made NCCU Law proud.

L to R: Raelan Miller (2L), Anna Farmer (2L), and Aaron Richards (3L) competed in the Touro Law and Religion Moot Court Competition. Students were coached by Professor Kevin Lee.

L to R: Michael Byrd (2L) and Tamia Glover (2L) competed in the Wechsler Criminal Law Moot Court Competition. Students were coached by Professor Dana Jones (center). Students learned a lot about effective appellate advocacy.

NCCU SCHOOL OF LAW ALUMNI AT THE FOREFRONT OF AN ENERGY REVOLUTION

By Patrick Buffkin ’12

When you walk into a dark room and flip a light switch, you probably don’t think about where the electricity you use comes from.

Two NCCU School of Law alumnae, Lynn Jarvis ’93 and Anne Keyworth ’16, think about this every day as attorneys at the North Carolina Utilities Commission and Public Staff respectively. They practice law at the forefront of an energy revolution that will transition electricity generation from coal to cleaner-burning natural gas, carbon-free nuclear or renewable resources such as solar and wind.

Jarvis entered the energy and utilities field as the chief clerk of the commission, and later joined the commission’s legal division where she advises the commission on renewable energy matters. The seven-member commission is nominated by the Governor, and confirmed by the General Assembly, and is the court of record for utilities matters.

“A big part of our work is making sure that public utilities meet the policy mandates enacted by our General Assembly,” says Jarvis. As an example, she cites the annual

commission proceedings to oversee compliance with the renewable energy portfolio standard law enacted in 2007. “The commission is responsible for tracking the sources of energy used by the utilities, and the money they spend to determine whether the utilities complied with statutory requirements, and whether the customers’ money was spent appropriately.”

The Public Staff, where Keyworth is a staff attorney, appears before the commission representing utility customers (or the “using and consuming public,” in statutory terms) in an auditing and advocacy capacity. Keyworth is one of the newer members of the legal division at the Public Staff, but has already contributed to significant work such as advocacy on the Carbon Plan, a multi-decade effort to have Duke Energy reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its power plants, and eventually achieve carbon neutrality.

Keyworth found energy and utilities engaging during her time clerking for N.C. Supreme Court Justice Sam Ervin, IV, a former utilities commissioner. The steep learning curve in the field can be intimidating due to the technical nature of the work,

but how electricity is generated, transmitted, distributed and paid for raises hard and important societal, environmental, financial and technological questions that I am fascinated by,” Keyworth explains.

Practice before the commission often involves intervenors representing a wide array of interests — industrial, tech, residential, low-income, environmental, etc. — each of whom have a stake in the issues. The many voices demonstrate the magnitude of the issues and the consumers’ interest in testing a utility’s planning and practices,” Keyworth adds.

While many North Carolina residents are happily unaware of the effort required to generate and deliver electricity, NCCU School of Law alumni can rest easy knowing that two of our fellow legal eagles are on the case, promoting the public interest at the forefront of the energy revolution.

The author is a 2012 graduate of the NCCU School of Law, a former staff attorney at the North Carolina Utilities Commission, and a specialist in utilities law.

THE COMPLETE ATTORNEY: Embracing your full self in a challenging profession

By Misty Oaks ’08

If there’s one thing I appreciate about my experience at NCCU School of Law, it’s the feeling of acceptance I felt from the faculty, staff and fellow students — now colleagues. From day one, I felt like I had joined a big, supportive, encouraging family that was rooting for me all the way. I felt comfortable enough to be my full, complete self in such a supportive environment, after all, we were all going through the trenches of law school together.

Fast forward through my 11 years as a practicing attorney, and you will see that the environment has been much different in the ‘real world.’ I have heard from countless attorneys that feel they simply cannot be themselves in our profession. Many, especially my sisters in the law, have felt that they have to cover up their natural hair, their natural speech or their natural demeanor to fit into the idea of who they are expected to be by their superiors. In law firms, courtrooms, and corporations all around America, there are lawyers who feel like they have to wear a mask, and parade around as someone other than who they truly are in order to fit in. Many of us feel pressured to meet societal standards of how a lawyer should look, dress and act, and in the process of conforming, we are losing the things that make us the most unique and special.

For example, I am a singer-songwriter, and have been since I was 12 years old. But I remember the first time I talked to a music producer and told him I was an attorney as well, he laughed and said, “Attorneys don’t write music.” Again, not the societal norm. Did I let it stop me? Hell no! But it did take me a moment to get over the initial shock of his ignorance to the depth that attorneys can possess. Nowadays, I tell people I am an attorney by profession, but I am a spiritual attorney by passion and purpose. In the same way attorneys advise their clients on man-made laws, I counsel my clients on spiritual, universal and metaphysical laws that keep our world in balance and order. I speak at corporations, organizations and events all over. I see private clients for energy healing and card readings, and I am a writer for many different

outlets that explore the spiritual side of life. Take that, societal standards!

I say all of this to say: society does not get to dictate who or how you should be; you get to decide who you are. You can be a great lawyer, and be that DJ, and that food blogger, and that interior designer, and that movie director, and whatever else you are passionate about. You can be everything you’ve always known you came to

I felt comfortable enough to be my full, complete self in such a supportive environment, after all, we were all going through the trenches of law school together.

this Earth to be. Do that! Be that! Embrace that! Be unabashedly unafraid to explore the depths of your dimensions, and hold the truth of who you are out for all the world to see. Then your light will shine brighter. You will be better able to service your clients because you are better able to service your passions and therefore better able to serve the world through your gifts. You will be complete and whole, not denying any parts of yourself, and therefore, able to move with purpose and power, not in fear of anyone else’s judgment of you. So, I say, shine Eagles! Shine in all of your uniqueness, in all of your creativeness, and as the only thing you can truly be — YOURSELF!

The Spiritual Attorney, Misty Oaks Paxton, has carved out a unique niche of advising and counseling for her clients about Spiritual, Metaphysical, and Universal Laws. She is a certified Meditation and Mindfulness Coach, a Spiritual Life Coach, an Energy Healer, and a highly sought-after speaker and writer throughout the Southeast.

Attorney Paxton lives in Atlanta with her husband and bonus son. Follow her on social media @The Spiritual Attorney and online at www.thespiritualattorney.com

OAS: Coaching You Through

By Antoinette Pierre-Louis, J.D., M.B.A.

Many law students enter law school anticipating the competitive atmosphere of having to fight to survive. They may picture themselves much like tributes in The Hunger Games, fighting each classmate to gain the upper hand in this new terrain and hoping to be a victor. They have been plucked from their respective homes and dropped into a tumultuous arena of unknown obstacles –law school. Indeed, for many this is their first time being away from home, on their own as an adult. Now add in the rigors of law school, their most perplexing educational experience yet. Fortunately for them, this is not The Hunger Games, and they are not tributes fending for themselves to stay alive. One of the things that makes NCCU School of Law unique is the students and faculty view themselves as a family – a team of Legal Eagles. That is what sold me on working for NCCU School of Law when I started here over two years ago as an Academic Success Specialist in the Office of Academic Success (OAS). The OAS is one of the first offices to interact with our students on their law school journey and one of the last offices that supports them during their bar preparation.

I often use sports references when talking to my students about how to navigate this law school environment. My most recent reference was that I was like a coach. I am coaching them through a challenging three years of their life and providing them skills they never thought they needed. The skills needed for each game day (test day) may consist of writing an effective analysis, outlining, time management, and other test-taking strategies. I have demonstrated to them it is not enough to know the information, they must know how to apply it to any game day scenario, that is the ability to apply the rules to any test hypothetical. They begin to see that every chance to practice and each assessment is an opportunity to improve those rule application skills. Much like athletes run scrimmages and drills to condition themselves for games, their individualized practice is preparation for their assessments. Each game prepares an athlete towards their goal of winning a championship. Each law school assessment

is in preparation for their biggest championship game – the Bar Exam.

The OAS staff begins coaching students early on whether through Performance Based Admission Program (PBAP) workshops or Pipeline workshops, or the Summer Start Initiative (SSI). OAS continues to train and support our team of Eagles through Critical Thinking (CT) I and II, Advanced Legal Analysis (ALA), Animal Law, PASS, Comprehensive Legal Analysis (CLA), and Invest in Success (IIS) which supports graduates during Bar Prep. Each program focuses on different skills our students will need to be successful in law school and on the bar exam. ALA for example focuses on Multi-State Bar Exam (MBE) multiple choice strategies through review of substantive courses like Civil Procedure or Real Property. However, the course is not just bar review, it is skill intensive weekly practice that allows students to become more proficient with strategies they can use in substantive courses. PASS is akin to ALA, but focuses on Constitutional Law and Evidence, two subjects that often pose a big concern to students. We recently added an Animal Law course that explores MultiState Performance Test (MPT) writing strategies as well as the substantive animal law. The MPT tests lawyering skills and critical thinking within a closed universe which provides multiple sources of facts and laws where students must decipher what information is needed to answer the question posed. The MPT can be intimidating to some, but I remind my team they have everything they need to succeed. During IIS we support graduates, along with our team of graders and accountability coaches, with weekly practice and workshops geared towards sharpening their abilities to surmount the big championship game. To further our graduates’ preparation, OAS collaborates and enters contracts with Bar Prep companies allowing us to offer reduced cost, if not free resources, practice materials, and tutoring.

Our office is a team of coaches providing guidance and strategies to our students every step of the way. By the end of their law school journey we become their cheering section reminding them of the hard work and commitment they poured into their studies to get them to this point. Like all great coaches, we do not take credit for their success, but praise them for the determination and commitment they exhibited to accomplish their goals and thank them for trusting us during this training process.

Cameron Benton and Marcia Lindsey Join Center for AI and Digital Policy

Cameron Benton and Marcia Lindsey have been selected as research group members for the Spring 2023 The Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP) AI Policy Clinic.

CAIDP is a research organization which assesses national AI policies, trains AI policy leaders, and promotes democratic values for AI. The center offers several clinics for future leaders in the AI policy field. These clinics provide training for pertinent skills in policy analysis, research, evaluation and more.

Benton and Lindsey will work alongside over 100 group members from across the world to undertake empirical research on national AI policies and practices. Upon completion of the clinic, Benton and Lindsey will receive the CAIDP AI Policy Clinic Certificate.

NCCU School of Law is committed to preparing students for the everchanging and innovative technology-driven legal industry. Benton and Lindsey are students in the NCCU Law and Technology Certificate Program. Benton is interested in practicing technology transactions law and privacy law.

Lindsey is interested in practicing intellectual property law and privacy law.

Cameron Benton

Marcia Lindsey

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF “TRIAL PRACTICE” AS A COURSE CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.

Should it be required in law school?

By Jerry Boies, Esq. ’12

Trial, especially jury trial, is a vital part of this Nation’s system of checks and balances. In addition to free election, trial is the process by which we hold our government accountable. Whether it is on behalf of a small farmer in Fresno County, Calif., fighting to prevent his land from being encroached on by the government or an undocumented immigrant or a Black person being stopped by the police without reasonable suspicion, the necessity of diverse and skillful representations in courtrooms across the country is imperative.

What is Trial Practice?

Trial Practice is the course in which students learn different components of trials and essential advocacy skills while performing certain aspects of the trial of a simulated case. I believe, other than the first-year required courses, Trial Practice was the most important course that I took at NCCU School of Law.

From the inception of this country, there appears to have been very little disagreement about the importance of jury trials. Thomas Jefferson wrote to Thomas Paine in a letter dated July 11, 1789, “I consider [trial by jury] as the only anchor yet imagined by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution.” As the sole dissenter in Parklane

Hosiery Co., Inc. v. Shore, 439 U.S. 322 (1979), former U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist reiterated that sentiment stating that, “[t] he right of jury trial in civil cases at common law is a basic and fundamental feature of our system of federal jurisprudence which is protected by the Seventh Amendment. A right so fundamental and sacred to the citizen, whether guaranteed by the Constitution or provided by statute, should be jealously guarded by the courts." Id.

As a trial lawyer representing clients in cases with great significance for my clients, certain communities and industries, I would be the first person to put forward that our system of justice is far from being perfect. However, unlike when Henry II could issue a Writ to those electing the Bishop of Winchester (1171) to order them “to hold a free election, but forbid [them] to elect anyone but Richard [his] clerk,” our justice system is designed to prevent such arbitrary and capricious infringement on our freedom. In other words, I would not trade our justice system for any other system around the world.

Being a trial lawyer is a privilege. In the courtrooms, trial lawyers are called to assist in safeguarding certain fundamental

rights that we cherish every day, such as one’s entitlement to live, work, vote, and pursue his or her dreams in an environment free of any kinds of discrimination. Trial Practice is where you begin to learn the required skills to be an effective trial lawyer.

In closing and in the interest of brevity, I recommend you read “Eight Traits of Great Trial Lawyers: A Federal Judge’s View on How to Shed the Moniker ‘I am a Litigator’” by former U.S. District Judge Mark W. Bennett. But I would like to add one more attribute I believe a great trial lawyer ought to possess, and that is: a preeminent reputation. A trial lawyer’s reputation is her most important currency. Having an unimpeachable reputation for integrity, candor, reasonableness and civility with your clients, the courts, the jury and opposing counsel will serve you well long term.

Mr. Boies is an NCCU School of Law’s Alumnus and Founder of THE BOIES LAW FIRM, PLLC, a New York City-based law firm. Mr. Boies has represented clients in employment and civil rights litigation throughout the country.

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JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS

JUDGE SKYERS-JENKINS ’93

The Honorable Sharon SkyersJenkins appointed by Governor Ned Lamont as judge for the Connecticut Superior Court.

JUDGE MICHAEL ONUFER ’13

The Honorable Michael Onufer appointed by Governor Cooper as District Court Judge in District 11 serving Johnston, Harnett and Lee counties.

JUDGE ROSALYN HOOD ’07

The Honorable Rosalyn Hood appointed as Cumberland County’s District Court Judge in the 12th Judicial District.

JUDGE KEVIN E. JONES ’03

Judge Kevin E. Jones sworn in as North Carolina District Court Judge serving the 14th Judicial District.

JUDGE CRAIG JAMES ’96

Judge Craig James appointed by Governor Roy Cooper to serve as District Court Judge in Judicial District 11 serving Harnett, Johnston, and Lee counties.

JUDGE SHAMIEKA

RHINEHART ’01

The Honorable Shamieka

Rhinehart appointed by Governor Cooper as Durham’s new Superior Court Judge in Judicial District 14A.

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Photo: Roy Rice Photography

Joy Clark ’21, Laura Swartz ’12, and Val Hanson ’12, are bringing ADR and restorative justice to the Triangle and beyond through the Dispute Settlement Center (DSC) in Carrboro, N.C. Val and Laura became friends in Professor Irving Joyner’s Civil Rights class at NCCU School of Law. Laura was drawn to ADR classes and found that mediation and facilitation suited her. After law school, Laura moved to Oregon where she became a member of the bar and worked for the City of Beaverton’s Dispute Resolution Center. Laura joined DSC in 2019, managing large-scale stakeholder engagement processes and facilitating gatherings for government, nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Laura also coordinates the mediation program for family, community, employment and contractual disputes. Her work requires a strong attention to detail, and the ability to synthesize large amounts of information—skills she learned while at NCCU School of Law.

In Val’s first class with the late Professor Pamela Glean, she became hooked on the transformative power of alternative dispute resolution, and continued to take every ADR course the school of law offered. Professor Glean encouraged and supported Val’s facilitation of ‘The Decompression Zone,’ a mindfulness space for students and faculty. ‘Coach’ Mark Morris, Kacie Wallace and Professor Glean guided Val in placing 2nd in the National Mediator Competition during her 2L year, and she never looked back. Committed to ADR and restorative justice, Val has mediated hundreds of cases, and as Restorative Practices director for DSC, Val facilitates restorative processes for District and Superior Court, trains K-12 professionals in restorative practices, and facilitates restorative circles with incarcerated individuals across N.C. She is also an adjunct faculty in the Department of Public Policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, teaching its first course on restorative justice.

Joy entered her 16th year as a math teacher, and first year of law school in 2018. She worked with Professor Scott Holmes on a Directed Research where he introduced her to professionals and practitioners in the RJ community. Joy and Val had several conversations, and through that summer experience, Joy solidified her intentions for her legal education. In November 2021, Joy joined DSC as restorative practices associate, working alongside Val, Laura and a compassionate team of mediators and restorative practitioners. Joy is a service provider for the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, working with youth on accountability processes, and providing student mediations in several Triangle area school systems. As a circle keeper, Joy facilitates in the community with youth and adults, and partners with Val to train teachers.

These NCCU School of Law graduates are grateful to work at DSC. Joy feels privileged to bring her background in education and the law to help narrow the school to prison pipeline. Laura appreciates the challenges and opportunities to contribute to this growing field, and Val loves facilitating and collaborating at the intersection of history, social justice, the arts and restorative practices. It was the NCCU School of Law that jump started their non-traditional J.D. careers, in which bringing about the peaceful settlement of disputes, preventing the escalation of conflict, and assisting people to heal from harm is their daily calling.

CAREERS IN ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR)?  DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE!

Joy Clark, Laura Swartz, Val Hanson

New United States Small Claims System May Help Decide

By Allie M. Craver ’17

Nearly everyone has developed an original work fixed in a tangible medium of expression capable of being copyrighted. Copyrights are the most widely held and highly infringed form of intellectual property, provided it spans the fields of writing, music, poetry, film, television, art, computer software and architecture. The creator does not have to register the work with the United States Copyright Office for protection to apply since copyright exists at the moment of creation in a fixed, tangible form. Considering the widespread nature of protection and our recent digital advancements, the rate of copyright infringement has increased exponentially. Congress, the Copyright Office, and the Supreme Court hope to rectify some major issues plaguing copyright law soon. More specifically, the focus of this piece will center on the recent development of a small claims system.

Congress passed the Copyright Alternative in SmallClaims Enforcement (“CASE Act”) in 2020, which established a Copyright Claims Board (CCB) to resolve disputes outside the federal court system. Three Copyright Claim Officers (CCOs), who have deep expertise in copyright law render determinations rather than judges. The CCB offers

a variety of claims, such as: a party accused of infringement can file a claim seeking a ruling that its actions do not infringe; a claim for misrepresentation in connection with a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notification; or a counter notification seeking to replace removed or disabled material. The respondent, whom the claim is made against, maintains the ability to opt out of the proceedings so long as it occurs within 60 days of notice. The claimant may then choose to file a suit against the respondent in federal court. If no opt-out occurs before the 60-day deadline, the proceeding moves forward in the CCB with or without their participation, and the respondent will be bound by the determination. Since a federal lawsuit cannot commence until copyright registration is complete, the CCB offers a quicker and less expensive method of obtaining copyright determinations.

Regarding relief, the CCOs may award actual damages and profits of up to $30,000 per proceeding or statutory damages as set by the law, which cannot exceed $15,000 for each work infringed, and

no greater than $30,000 per proceeding. Attorneys’ fees and costs can be awarded along with a note in the determination to stop infringing activities, if a party has agreed to do so. Federal and state government entities are excluded from any CCB action, and libraries and archives can preemptively optout of having claims brought against them. Many small businesses and creators have initiated claims using this costeffective, timely system that should only grow in the future.

Although the CCB is a step in the right direction, more significant copyright decisions are imminent: the Supreme Court will determine the scope of fair use and its transformative test Warhol v. Goldsmith; a congressional study was initiated on nonfungible tokens (NFT), based on blockchain technology and intellectual property; and a revision to the outdated DMCA (1998) may occur soon. At least the CCB provides another system to right any copyright wrongs.

Allie M. Craver, Intellectual Property manager, Pérez Art Museum, Miami

Official Launch of NCCU

TECHNOLOGY LAW & POLICY CENTER

North Carolina Central University Technology Law & Policy Center held its inaugural Law and Technology Summit October 14-15, 2022, to officially launch the center. The two-day hybrid summit brought together some of the industry’s top legal experts, policy advocates and technologists from around the country. The summit consisted of a series of keynote speeches, presentations and panel discussions designed to examine issues and current developments in law and technology, including artificial intelligence, data privacy, cybersecurity, tech policy and legal services regulatory reform. The summit also provided an opportunity to recognize and celebrate our students who have received law and technology-related scholarships and awards and to acknowledge the contributions of the late Browne C. Lewis.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Attorney Diane Littlejohn ‘10 is the executive director of the Tech Law and Policy Center. In addition to helping run the center, she teaches a course on the intersection of law practice and technology. Outside of teaching and directing the center, Littlejohn practices trademark law and business information contracts. Littlejohn joined the North Carolina Bar Association Small Firm and Technology Group and serves as a board member. In September 2022, Littlejohn presented at the HBCU Technology Conference on AI and Facial Recognition Technologies. She served as a moderator on the NFT (non-fungible tokens) panel for the NCCU Technology Law and Policy Summit held in October 2022. Littlejohn presented on two panels related to NFTs and the Metaverse at the ABA Tech show in March 2023.

TECH LAW FELLOW

Attorney Cedric A. Pickett ’18 is the Technology Law and Policy Center tech law fellow. His interests are data privacy, cybersecurity, and FinTech. Before attending law school, Pickett accumulated over a decade of experience in various capacities; addressing emerging technology at North Carolina State University, Schwab Performance Technologies, and KPIT (formally known as i-Cubed). Pickett received his undergraduate degree in Technology Education from NC State University. He also received his MBA and Juris Doctorate from North Carolina Central University. In 2020, he received his Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/ US) certification from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). Pickett teaches Private Sector Privacy for students interested in data privacy, and interested in obtaining their CIPP/US certification.

Students who earn the Law & Technology Certificate Program would have completed classes and assignments that ensure that the student has (1) developed competence in the area of law practice technology/legal technology, and (2) studied a broad range of law of technology/technology law subjects, and engaged in an in-depth study in one or more technology law subjects.

INTEL SOCIAL JUSTICE & RACIAL EQUITY ENDOWED PROFESSOR OF LAW

Professor Kevin Lee joined NCCU School of Law as the Inaugural Social Justice & Racial Equity Endowed Chair on July 1, 2022. Prior to joining NCCU, Lee was a tenured, full professor at Campbell University, Norman A. Wiggins School of Law, where he taught corporate law, jurisprudence and computational law for 15 years. He was the founding director of Campbell Law Innovation Institute, and the founding chair of the North Carolina Bar Association Future of Law Committee. In 2017, he was recognized by Fastcase as one of the top 50 innovators. Lee was a law clerk to the Hon. Herbert J. Hutton, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He was a Foreign Office lawyer/associate with a large commercial law firm located in Tokyo, Japan. He holds advanced degrees in Social and Political Ethics from the Divinity School of The University of Chicago, from Colgate University in Philosophy and Religion, and he is a graduate of New York Law School. This academic year, Lee taught law tech-related courses, including Law, Ethics of AI and Policy; The Jurisprudence of AI; and Directed Research on a technologyrelated project for one student. Lee also teaches Business Associations. Lee has written several pieces, and is currently working on a book chapter titled “Teaching Antiracism While Teaching Legal Technology” for the Penn State/ Dickinson, Antiracist Law School Project.

LAW & TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE

NCCU School of Law is strongly committed to preparing students for the increasingly technology-driven legal industry, and in support of that mission, it has established the Law & Technology Certificate Program. The Law & Technology Certificate recognizes a student's successful completion of a focused course of technology and law study, including at least 15 credit hours of approved law and technologyrelated courses. Students who earn this Certificate would have completed classes and assignments that ensure that the student has (1) developed competence in the area of law practice technology/legal technology, and (2) studied a broad range of law of technology/ technology law subjects, and engaged in an in-depth study in one or more technology law subjects. Ten graduates from the class of 2023 are the first students to earn the Law & Technology Certificate — Cameron Benton, Michala Blue, Delany Davis, Brianna George, Paloma Magallanes, Kayla Mitchell, Keziah Opoku-frimpong, Kearra Richardson, Hillary Teoyotl and Moses Washington.

DATA PRIVACY & SECURITY SPECIALIZATION

The job market for data privacy professionals continues to grow, and the supply of data privacy professionals cannot meet the demand. Recognizing this need, the Technology Law & Policy Center has developed a Data Privacy and Security Specialization within the Law & Technology Certificate Program. This specialization includes courses, training and employment resources for students interested in data privacy and data security practices. NCCU School of Law has partnered with the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) to ensure our students receive discounts on IAPP resources under the IAPP Higher Education Student Discount Program. NCCU School of Law is also an Official Training Partner for the IAPP, and will be able to offer official IAPP training for attorneys interested in securing CIPP certification. Tech Law Fellow and attorney, Cedric Pickett, CIPP/ US, leads the TLPC Data Privacy & Security Specialization efforts.

LAW & TECHNOLOGY STUDENT ORGANIZATION

The Law & Technology Certificate students created the Law & Technology Student Organization in August 2022. The founding officers are Todd Ford Jr., president, Malcolm Lewis, vice president, Stephanie Lindor, director of communications, Kiarra Slay, treasurer and Kayla Mitchell, secretary. The newly established Law and Technology Student Organization was created to guide students in utilizing NCCU's resources in the legal technology field and to build a community of students and professors interested in the intersections of law and technology. The organization sponsors and organizes events for students and faculty interested in or learning more about legal technology and legal tech-related career paths.

Steven Parker ’05 was recently selected to serve as Chief Innovation Officer (CInO) for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), in the Department of Homeland Security.

Steven and his team are charged with enhancing TSA’s innovation capacity by connecting, enabling and incorporating innovative technology and process ideas from passengers, employees and transportation industry partners, throughout TSA and the greater transportation security ecosystem.

Most recently Steven served as general counsel at Story Brand, a major brand and marketing company representing Fortune 500 companies, where he provided legal counsel to team members in the development of messaging for the company’s customers. Prior to his role at Story Brand, Steven served as the deputy state director for U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff. He was the senator’s liaison and primary point of contact for elected and community stakeholders throughout the state of Georgia. Steven has extensive experience leading strategic initiatives, as political director for the Ossoff for Senate Campaign; community specialist for the City of Raleigh, N.C.; community affairs manager for Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan; political director of the California No On Prop 38 Campaign; Southern California outreach coordinator for the California Complete Count Campaign; and as field representative for California State Senator Herschel Rosenthal.

Steven began his legal career in

2005 with the law firm of Balch & Bingham, LLP in Birmingham, Ala. During this time, he was the co-author of the American Bar Association (ABA) Tort Trial Insurance Practice Section’s Annual Survey of Recent Developments in Title Insurance Law, a regular presenter of National Business Institute seminars on title insurance principles, and was the first African American chair of the ABA Title Insurance Litigation Committee. Steven was an adjunct faculty member at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, where he taught an undergraduate course in trial advocacy, in conjunction with coaching the Samford University Mock Trial Team, and taught torts and real estate law in the Paralegal Studies Certification Program. His private sector experience includes serving as vice president and senior counsel with Fidelity National Title Group, the largest title insurance company in the United States, and as senior city attorney for the Mayor of Atlanta, which required negotiation and completion of multimillion dollar commercial real estate transactions.

Steven earned his bachelor’s from California State University, Northridge and his Juris Doctorate from NCCU School of Law, where he was on the trial team and took first place in the Michael Easley Closing Argument competition. He is a member in good standing of both the Georgia and Alabama Bars. Steven cultivates high level longterm relationships and innovative ideas that provide value to elected officials, non-elected officials, business leaders, community leaders and other stakeholders.

STEVEN PARKER SELECTED TO SERVE AS CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER FOR THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

REGINA STEPHENS NAMED EEOC’S

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE

Chief Administrative Judge Leads Agency’s National Hearing Program

Regina Stephens ’87 has been named to the newly created senior executive position of chief administrative judge in the Office of Field Programs, the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

The chief administrative judge position was created to ensure a focused senior-level attention at the headquarters level for the agency’s National Hearings Program to support the administration’s wholeof-government approach to equity and civil rights. The National Hearings Program provides administrative hearing services for federal employees’ equal employment opportunity complaints, under Section 717 of Title VII, Section 15 of the Age Discrimination Employment Act (ADEA), and Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, when requested after investigations by federal departments or agencies. As chief administrative judge, Stephens will guide the program to accomplish its mission innovatively and equitably, with a particular emphasis on planning and policy development, and determining program priorities and quality assurance.

“As the nation’s largest employer, the federal government provides the federal community with an independent

administrative process to address workplace violations of the laws enforced by EEOC,” said Stephens. “I am excited to lead the EEOC’s federal sector administrative hearings program, and to address these claims in a fair, effective, and efficient forum.”

“Ms. Stephens’ work at the EEOC in federal sector programs has provided her with a wealth of experience and an in-depth knowledge needed to lead this

“Having her share her expertise and commitment in this important new role will be invaluable, as we shape the future of the federal equal employment opportunity hearings process, and to better serve workers throughout the federal government.”

— Charlotte A. Burrows, EEOC Chair

important function,” said EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows. “Having her share her expertise and commitment in this important new role will be invaluable, as we shape the future of the federal equal employment opportunity hearings process, and to better serve workers throughout the federal government.”

Stephens, a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and NCCU School of Law, began her career with the EEOC as an appellate attorney in Washington, D.C., where she worked in the Office of Review

and Appeals, now the Office of Federal Operations. After several years in Washington, D.C., she returned to the Charlotte District Office as an administrative judge, and was later promoted to supervisory administrative judge where she managed the federal sector hearings program for Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Before her selection, she was a member of the Office of Field Programs senior staff where she served as a National Hearings program manager.

By Asia A. Skyers ’23

In Connecticut, the Skyers family has forged a special connection to NCCU School of Law. In 1989, NCCU School of Law opened its historic halls and admitted the first member of the Skyers family, Eroll V. Skyers. Eroll traveled all the way from the state of Connecticut to matriculate as a 1L at NCCU School of Law.  Eroll enjoyed the rigorous curriculum and the challenges of the C minus rule so much that he enticed his younger sister Sharon to follow his lead. Sharon Skyers entered NCCU School of Law in 1990 and graduated in 1993, the year after Eroll. Thereafter, the law firm of Skyers & Skyers was established in Bridgeport, Conn., in 1993. A few years later in 1995, Eroll and Sharon’s youngest sister, Shirley Skyers matriculated as a 1L at NCCU School of Law. Eroll is the class of 1992, Sharon is the class of 1993 and Shirley is the class of 1999. Shirley was a graduate of the inaugural JD/MBA dual degree program at the university.

Today, the law firm now Skyers, Skyers & Harrell, LLC, has a distinctive history of serving clients for over thirty years. Eroll has a wide range of trial experience in personal injury law and criminal law on both the state and federal levels. He has made a career of persuading juries to generously find in favor

LEGACY

of personal injury clients, and similarly gaining not guilty verdicts for clients who have been accused of serious criminal felonies. He has been lead counsel in major litigation projects involving personal injury, civil rights, multijurisdictional contract disputes, criminal and commercial cases.

Sharon’s practice concentrates on personal injury matters, representing injured victims suffering bodily injury that arise from accident claims. She also does a significant amount of both commercial and residential real estate transactions.

Shirley Skyers-Thomas is counsel to the senate majority leader at the Connecticut General Assembly. She works on varying aspects that move legislation and public policy forward with an eye to enhancing sustainable and equitable laws and policies.

Continuing the Skyers legacy this May is 3L Law student Asia A. Skyers. Asia is Eroll‘s eldest daughter and Sharon and Shirley’s niece. She is a member of the JD/ MIS program at the University, and will be graduating alongside the class of 2023 with both a Juris Doctorate and Master of Information Science. Asia plans to practice in Raleigh, N.C., upon graduation as a civil litigator, following in the footsteps of her father and aunt. She is presently engaged to marry attorney Bryan M. Sumner ’19, a civil litigator in Raleigh, N.C. Attorney Sumner is the nephew of retired Superior Court Judge Quentin T. Sumner ’72.

NCCU School of Law has provided the Skyers family with a lasting legacy and love for the law that has transcended generations. Thirty years after Skyers & Skyers opened its doors to serve, the Skyers family prepares to welcome the newest “Attorney Skyers” to the family and to the profession as a legal servant. The Legal Eagle Legacy will continue as a new legal Eagle joins the ranks of NCCU School of Law alumni who have shaped the legal landscape since 1939.

Left to right: Attorney Eroll Skyers ’92, Attorney Shirley Skyers-Thomas ’99, Attorney Sharon Skyers ’93

Asia A. Skyers ’23

NCCU School of Law alumnus, the Honorable H.M. “Mickey” Michaux Jr. ’64 received the state’s highest civilian honor Tuesday, November 15, 2022. The North Carolina Awards, were presented to six distinguished North Carolinians by Governor Roy Cooper at the North Carolina Museum of Art. The award was created by the General Assembly in 1961 to recognize significant contributions to the state and nation in the fields of fine arts, literature, public service and science.

The Durham native 92, remembers seeing segregated water fountains at the downtown United Department Store, and not understanding the meaning behind the signs. Michaux graduated high school from Palmer Memorial Institute, a boarding school for Black students that operated near Greensboro from 1902 to 1970. Following in the footsteps of his father, Henry Michaux Sr., he attended NCCU, playing on the school’s first tennis team in 1948. He received a bachelor’s degree in 1952, and his law degree in 1964.

Part of a prominent Durham business family, Henry McKinley

“Mickey” Michaux Jr. became the longest-serving member of the North Carolina General Assembly after short stints as a federal and state prosecutor.

For nearly four decades, he has been part of important legislation that includes bills supporting healthcare, voting rights, economic development and historically black colleges and universities (HBCU), such as his alma mater, NCCU, where the university’s education building is named in his honor.

He served in the N.C. House of Representatives from 1973-77, and later from 1983-2019. In 2020, at age 89, he was appointed to temporarily fill a seat in the N.C. Senate. Michaux was instrumental in preparing multiple state budgets as senior House Appropriations Committee chair, and held numerous leadership positions in the House. Michaux was appointed in 1977 to serve as a U.S. attorney, becoming the first African American to serve in that role in the South since Reconstruction.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

ALUMNUS H. M. “MICKEY” MICHAUX RECEIVES STATE’S HIGHEST PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD

THE HONORABLE PAT EVANS ’84 RECEIVES 2022 CHIEF JUSTICE’S PROFESSIONALISM AWARD

The Honorable Pat Evans ’84 received the 2022 Chief Justice’s Professionalism Award. Judge Evans served as a District Court judge for the Fourteenth Judicial District, where she presided over Civil, Criminal, Child Support, Community Life, Domestic Violence, Family, Juvenile Delinquency, Traffic and People’s Courts. She also served as the Adult Drug Treatment Court judge and is a member of the NCCU School of Law Board of Visitors.

NCCU LAW GRADUATE THE LATE ATTORNEY JULIAN T. PIERCE ’76

Strived for equality for all People

By Terri Godwin Hyman, Director of Marketing and Communications

Julia Beach Pierce was a senior in high school when her father Julian T. Pierce was believed to have been assassinated in 1988, at his home in Wakulla, North Carolina. Julian T. Pierce spent much of his life in racially troubled Robeson County advocating social change and fighting tirelessly for justice and equality for lowincome people. He was weeks away from becoming the first Native American Superior Court Judge in Robeson County when he was found fatally shot in his home. He won the election posthumously by more than 2,000 votes.

Born to Lumbee sharecroppers, Pierce rose from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential Native American attorneys of his time. At age 16, he graduated from high school, and went on to attend Pembroke State College where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. Pierce was one of 13 children, and the first in his family to attend college.

After college he worked as a chemist at the Norfolk Navy Shipyard in Virginia before attending NCCU School of Law

where he graduated with his Juris Doctor degree in 1976. After graduation from NCCU School of Law he was offered a position with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. While working there, Pierce attended Georgetown University Law Center to earn his Master of Laws in Taxation. In 1978, Pierce moved back to North Carolina and became the first director of Lumbee River Legal Services, a new legal aid organization headquartered in Pembroke. The organization was designed to serve the poor in Robeson and surrounding counties. Pierce married and had three children: Julia, her twin brother Julian and their older brother Avery.

During an interview with Julia, she recalled as a young girl how playful her dad was. “He enjoyed playing with us when he would get off work,” Julia said. “Dad had a sand timer, and he’d give each of us individual attention through the duration of the sand timer. He’d wrestle with us, play with us, then we’d all pile on him at one time. He was careful in making sure he paid close attention to each of his children.”

Pierce had a large extended family with twelve brothers and sisters, whom he loved spending time with. The family held frequent gatherings in their homes, a tradition that continues to this day. Julia said, “Dad worked really, really hard every day, and he emphasized to us that the work he was doing helped people. Most prevalent in Julia’s mind is how people they didn’t know would come to their house seeking help and legal counsel from her dad. “Someone would tell them where Dad lived, they would come and knock at the door, and he would let them in and talk to them,” Julia said. “He’d help them right then if he could. If the issue was more extensive, he’d set up a time for them to meet him at his office. Some had been denied their social security or disability. He was always willing to help people. Whatever the problem was it was fundamental in their lives and he knew that without legal assistance they wouldn’t have their needs met. Dad understood what it meant to feel powerless and not have the education and ability to fight back when treated unfairly,” she added.

Seeking employment as a

staff attorney with Lumbee Legal Services, former North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson recalls interviewing and working with Julian Pierce. “He passionately conveyed his belief that legal representation was a right denied far too many citizens of Robeson and Cumberland counties, because of the lack of financial ability. He was committed to meeting as many of those civil legal needs as possible.”

Julia and her brothers are committed to keeping their late father’s legacy alive.

Though the siblings all reside in different areas of the country, they stay in close contact. Julia serves as associate general counsel (Division Chief) for the Public Health Division

Office of the General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Her twin brother Dr. Julian Pierce practices internal medicine in Florida, and their older brother Avery resides in Virginia.

In the years since his death, many have been inspired by his life to seek positions never held by minorities, to enter professional fields, including law, and to seek justice and equity for all people. Blacks and Native Americans are historically underrepresented in the field of law. The Julian T. Pierce Memorial Scholarship is one of many initiatives to help shift this paradigm. The scholarship initiative was established in 2003 through a collaborative effort between Robeson Community

College, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, NCCU School of Law, and North Carolina Legal Aid. Numerous students have benefited financially from annual scholarship awards.

In 2013, a memorial art dinner was started by Harvey Godwin, a former Lumbee Tribal chairman and owner of Two Hawk Employment Service. Godwin served as campaign manager for Pierce during his run for Superior Court Judge. The memorial dinner has helped raise thousands each year in support of scholarships.

Julian T. Pierce inspired many through his exemplary leadership, his life commitment, and most importantly his truth and service.

L to R: Harvey Godwin Jr., Lisa Hunt, Kelvin Jacobs ’13, Darius York-Stephens, Shelley A. Brown, Larry T. Futrell, Alex Lehmann and Interim Dean Malik C. Edwards

Memorial

Charles Edward Daye was born on May 14, 1944, and transitioned on December 25, 2022.

A Durham native, Professor Daye graduated in 1962 from the former Merrick Moore High School with honors, and from North Carolina College (North Carolina Central University) in 1966 with a degree in Political Science magna cum laude. Immediately after this graduation, Daye entered the Columbia Law School (Columbia University) where he graduated cum laude in 1969. After Law School, he was selected as law clerk for the Honorable Harry Phillips, chief judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and was one of the first African Americans to attain this position. Following this tenure, he was one of the first African Americans to join the prestigious law firm of Covington and Burling in Washington D.C.

In 1972, Professor Daye joined the faculty at the University of North Carolina School of Law

in Chapel Hill where he became the first African American to obtain tenure. This tenure was interrupted in 1981 when he was appointed as the Dean of the NCCU School of Law where he served until 1985. Professor Daye served with distinction as the Henry Brandis Professor of Law at UNC until his retirement in 2014, and was honored with the designation as an emeritus professor. In addition to his classroom work at UNC, he served as a founding member and associate director of the Center for Civil Rights. In 1999, Professor Daye was honored with the Doctor of Law Degree from Suffolk University.

Professor Daye was a member of a host of community, professional and legal education organizations, and was a leader in efforts to advance the causes of racial equality, diversity and academic excellence. Among those activities were being elected or appointed as president of the American

Bar Association’s Law School Admission Council, and the president of the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers where he served in that position from 1976-78, and became the longest serving executive secretary from 1979-1999. In a very real sense, Professor Daye was a door opener for hundreds of students to enter the legal profession, and was especially devoted to the cause of opening the doors of society and the legal profession for African Americans and students of color at UNC and NCCU. He played a major role in efforts by lawyers to attack the evils of segregation and racial bias in politics, housing, employment and legal education. He was an author, poet, legal researcher and advisor to attorneys and legal organizations within North Carolina and around the country.

Eleanette Maccene Brown Lyerly was born October 3, 1951, to her loving parents, the late Matthew Brown and Eleanor Mumford Brown in Durham, North Carolina. She transitioned from this life on Thursday, December 8, 2022. Maccene was a caring daughter, aunt, sister, cousin and wife.

An avid student, Maccene attended Miss Hall’s all girls boarding school of Massachusetts before graduating from Mount Holyoke College. She would go on to move back home to Durham, N.C. and become a teacher at Hillandale Elementary school. Maccene taught until she decided to return to school in 1979. She attended NCCU School of Law where she received her law degree in 1982. Maccene worked for over 20 years with Legal Aid of North Carolina, serving as an attorney and supervising attorney at Legal Aid offices in Wilson, Pittsboro and Durham.

Maccene had a deep love for her community and passion for helping people. She was a daughter of the West Durham Baptist Church. Maccene was an active participant of many charitable organizations, and believed in community service. She ran a private practice for many years, providing pro bono services to many in need. She is predeceased by her brothers Walter Brown, William Brown, Thelbert (Jackie) Brown and sister Delphine Brown Powell.

Bert Collins Sr. was born in Austin, Texas on November 9, 1943, to the late James Kirk Collins and Aldonia Edmondson Collins. He transitioned this earthly life on Saturday, January 28, 2023.

Bert was educated in the public schools of Austin, Texas and received his Bachelor of Science degree from HustonTillotson College, Austin, Texas; Master of Business degree from the University of Detroit, Detroit, Mich., and Juris Doctorate degree from the NCCU School of Law in Durham, N.C. Bert was a certified public accountant and licensed attorney. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and the National Association of Guardsmen. He joined North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company in 1970 serving in various positions, and rising to the level of president and chief executive officer, and retiring as chairman of the board of directors. He served on numerous corporate, civic, fraternal and governmental boards including serving on the NCCU Board of Trustees, the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, UDI, AAA of the Carolinas, Durham Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, UNC Board of Governors and Durham Technical Community College. He also served as an associate professor at NCCU in 1974.

Lowell Lesesne Siler was born on July 14, 1954, in Goldsboro, N.C., to the late William Perry (Ruby A.) Siler and the late Gloria Lesesne Siler. He transitioned on September 6, 2022.

Attorney Siler became Durham’s first African American county attorney. In this distinguished position, he advised the county commissioners, county manager, and department heads on legal matters that relate to the operation of county government. He earned his law degree from NCCU School of Law in 1979.

Attorney Siler began his career with Durham County in 1987, when he was hired as an assistant county attorney. In 1990, he was promoted to deputy county attorney. The Durham Board of Commissioners appointed him as Durham County attorney in 1990, making him the county’s first African American named to that position. For nearly 35 years, he served with integrity and distinction as the chief legal advisor to the Board of County commissioners, county manager and departments. He retired April 30, 2022.

The Honorable Sammie Chess Jr. Sammie Chess Jr., was the son of the late Sammie Chess Sr., and the late Susanna Hagood Chess. On March 28, 1934, he was born in the Bull Pond community of Allendale County, South Carolina. He transitioned peacefully on July 23, 2022.

Until age 9, Chess and his family lived on the farm where he was born, and at age 12, Sammie Sr., migrated the family to Harlem, N.Y. It would be later in his adolescence that Chess and his family moved to High Point, N.C., where the stewardship and educator’s love of Mr. Samuel E. Burford would set the course for Chess’ life of service to mankind. These were Chess’ formative years at his dear William Penn High School, and at a time in our history where public schools were segregated; yet, educators such as Mr. Burford and others saw the promise in their young students in these ‘separate by unequal’ schools. Chess often spoke of how Mr. Burford saved his life.

Mr. Burford and educators of the segregated William Penn High School saw to it that Chess enrolled in North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University). There, he would excel and enter The College’s School of Law his junior year, completing both undergraduate and law school in six years. After passing the North Carolina Bar exam, Chess served two years in the United States Army, including a tour of duty in Korea.

Upon completing his service in the Army, in 1960, Chess hung his shingle to practice law in the city of High Point. He immediately engaged in the Civil Rights Movement, taking on cases in High Point and across the state. Chess’ focus was ending discrimination and segregation. He fought tirelessly. For the next decade, he would argue (and win) cases that would lead to desegregation of the High Point Public Schools system, public hospitals, theatres, restaurants and other institutions and facilities intended “for the People.”

Chess was often called upon by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to help “fight the good fight,” and join legal teams who would argue landmark cases before the Supreme Court of the United States. One such case was Griggs v. Duke Power, a case in which the U.S. Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision on March 8, 1971, established the legal precedent for so-called “disparateimpact” lawsuits involving instances of racial discrimination.

In 1971, Chess became the first Black Superior Court judge in the state of North Carolina. Governor Robert W. Scott appointed Chess as a special Superior Court judge, empowering him with the ability to hold court state-wide, thus ensuring justice in civil and criminal trials and hearings. In this capacity, Chess changed many practices commonly accepted during this time, such as judges and prosecuting officials referring to Black witnesses by their first name, while referring to

White persons as Mr. or Mrs. Judge Chess made it clear that there would be no unequal treatment in his court. Judge Chess afforded all who appeared before him an equal, fair and impartial trial regardless of color or station in life. Judge Chess returned to his law practice in 1975 where he served faithfully until 1991, when he was appointed Administrative Law Judge in the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts. He retired in 2007, thus concluding nearly a 50-year career serving the people of North Carolina and the United States.

During the next 15 years, Chess continued to be of service. He found purpose in the High Point Bar Association, his church and with his beloved brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He always found time to encourage young lawyers to be the best - to always be prepared, to persevere and pursue excellence.

The recognition of Judge Chess’ service to others is farreaching. Respected by his colleagues and community was overwhelmingly humbling to Chess. His purpose and conviction led him to believe he was doing God’s work. The acceptance he sought was from his Creator; and to one day hear the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” was the only acknowledgment for which Chess lived his life.

Pamela Lucille Stanback Glean transitioned on January 20, 2023. She was born on December 14, 1956, to the late Albert Leon Stanback Sr., and Catherine Caldwell Stanback. She graduated from Hillside High School in 1974. Stanback Glean attended Duke University, and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. After college, Stanback Glean attended NCCU School of Law where she earned a Juris Doctorate in 1980. Shortly thereafter she and her cousin Barry S. Stanback joined her brother A. Leon Stanback Jr., and formed a successful private law firm in Greensboro, Stanback and Stanback.

On April 28, 1990, Pamela married the love of her life, Luis Alberto Glean in Durham, N.C. During their loving and passionate union, two wonderful children, Luis Alberto Glean II, and Ercilla Gabriella Glean were born.

A champion of justice and advocate for abused and neglected children and their families, Pamela served as Durham’s assistant county attorney, helped build and establish The Center for Child and Family Health. In 1997, she built one of the top law clinics in the nation at her beloved alma mater, NCCU School of Law. Over her more than 20-

year tenure, Pamela served faithfully as the director of clinical legal education, assistant dean of clinical and professional skills, and ultimately retired as the associate dean of academic affairs. Pamela won numerous grants, and led countless innovative initiatives to broaden access, engagement and collaboration to legal education throughout the state and nation.

Pamela was honored with awards for her service throughout her career including, the North Carolina Bar Association’s Student Pro Bono Award, George White Bar Association’s Service and Leadership Award, The Center for Child and Family Health Outstanding Service Award and North Carolina Central University’s Virtual Justice Trailblazer Award. Pamela served on numerous boards as well, including: The Durham County Board of Social Service, Planned Parenthood of NC, the NC Legal Education Fund and the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers. She was a member of the Durham Chapter of Smart Set.

Keshawna Alderman (2L) A native of Harlem, New York, Keshawna was pursing her juris doctorate degree and Law and Technology Certificate, with interests in entertainment law, trademarks and intellectual property. She was especially passionate about advocating and creating spaces in the legal field for people of color. An active participant on campus and in her local community, Keshawna was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the Black Law Student Association and the Intellectual Property Law Society.

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND RACIAL EQUITY INSTITUTE

Inspired in 2020, the Social Justice and Racial Equity Institute (SJREI) addresses systemic racism and other forms of inequality through interdisciplinary problem solving that researches the legacy of racial injustice and advances a just and prosperous society for all people.

Pictured are highlights from the launch gala held on April 15, 2023, at the NCCU Student Center. NCCU Law Professor Irving L. Joyner delivered the keynote address.

NCCU School of Law

DONOR HONOR ROLL

Donor Honor Roll list reflects annual gifts made between Feb 2, 2022- Mar 10, 2023. The Donor Honor Roll is our opportunity to thank alumni, friends and partners who have demonstrated their support.

DEAN’S CIRCLE

$10,000 AND UP

AAA-ICDR Foundation

Atiba Adams

John Burris and Cheryl Amana-Burris

Bert and Carolyn Collins Sr. Duke Energy Foundation

Joan Franks

Gray Legal, PLLC

Frances Hasso

Julian T. Pierce Memorial Initiative

Law Offices of John L. Burris Law School Admission Council

LexisNexis

Eleanor Mason-Ramsey

Lawrence C. McSwain

Smith/Shaver Law School Scholarship Fund, Inc.

BOND CLUB

$5,000 - $9,999

Stephen G. Hartzell and Jill Shatterly

Laurie N. Robinson-Haden

Aaron L. Spaulding

Monte D. Watkins

1930 CLUB

$2,500 - $4,999

John and Valerie Caldwell

Everett Chandler

Hilton Family Giving Account

Irving Joyner

Saint Joseph A.M.E. Church

Charles E. Smith

Gerald L. Walden Jr.

BARRISTERS

$1,000 - $2,499

AccessLex Institute

Glenn B. and Gale Adams

Sonya M. Allen

Anonymous

Nita Asher

Kelvin J. Atkinson

Janet Atler-Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Beach

Robert H. Bembry III

Dominique Camm

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

Phyliss Craig-Taylor

Jason and Avery Crump

William and Priscilla Dudley

Malik C. Edwards

James Faison

Jeannine Quick-Frasier and Ralph K. Frasier, Sr.

James Gaynor

Carol Goins

David Green

Theodore A. Greve

Kurt Vernon and Kia Hardy-Vernon

James R. and Candice Hill

Dondrea Jackson

James and Kaye Jackson

Melvena Jordan

Law Office Of Grady

Jessup, PLLC

Mark D. and Lisa Locklear

Robert and Dorothy Matthias

Rickey and Sandra McCurry

Adrienne Meddock

Carolyn B. and Kenneth O’Garro-Moore

Hari Osofsky

William Pagan

Nichelle and Alexander Perry

Anitra Royster

Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell, & Jernigan LLP

Valeria B. Thomas

Milton Tingling

Frank and Kimberlee Turner

James Webb

Cory Williams

Ortharine Williams

EAGLE’S COURT

$500 - $999

Michele Alexandre

Anonymous

Anonymous

Marjorie Arrignton

Mark Atkinson

Stephen Beasley

Jennifer Boyer

Brame Specialty Company, Inc.

Larry Brown

Joan Bullock

Nicholas Carr

Nakia Davis

Jacob Goad

Sonny Haynes

Robyn and Hicks-Guinn

Erin Kauffman

Latrice N. Lee

Marsetta Lee

Lisa Walker Attorney at Law PLLC

John Logsdon

Jessica Major

Bruce Margulies

Angela McIver

Tammy Nicholson

North Carolina Bar Association Foundation

Toni Paschall

LaShawn Piquant

Leah Rackley

Eli Sotomayor and Joshua Sotomayor

Ryan Stowe

Heather Thompson

William Tonkins

Damian Tucker

Ty Ink Promotions

Brian and Lisa Wilks

George York

MAROON AND GRAY CLUB

$100 - $499

Natasha Adams

Wanda Allen-Abraha

Al’s Plumbing Repairs

Edward and G. Katheryn Anderson

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous Anonymous

John Atkins III

Kevin Atkinson

Jonathan Augustine

Katrina and Elbert Avery

Tonya Banks-Daniels

Camille Banks-Prince

Patricia Bennett

Angel Berry

Jennifer Best

Kathleen Boozang

Brett Bowers

William Bowie III

Karen Bravo

Tia Brown Black

Crystal Brown

Elias Brown II

George Brown

Herb Brown

Curtis and Jennifer Brown

Stephanie and Butler-Fallahi

Stacey Carless

Joyce A. Cason

Carol Chestnut

Kinna Clark

Krishnee Coley

Jane Cross

Gennell Curry

Camille Davidson

April and Alexander Dawson

Shelly DeAdder

Michele Delgado

Darby Dickerson

Edward Dilone

Nicole Drew

Duke Law School Dean’s Office

Omololu Edun

Bartina Edwards

Ronald Fairbanks

Susan Fisher

Frederick Fleming

Steven Forbes

Constance Foster

Ira Foster

Graeme Frelick

Whitney Frye

Brenda Gibson

Al-Tony and Beryl Gilmore

Elizabeth Gold

Risa Goluboff

Kimberly Grainger

Marshall Green

Denaa’ Griffin

Randy Griffin

Kaaryn Gustafson

Katheleen Guzman

Todd and Emily Hales

Heuston Hall

Arlene Hanks

Soham and Tejashree Hatkar

Susan Hauser

Gary Henderson

Taja-Nia Henderson

Kathleen Herr

Elizabeth Hill-Jefferson

Charles Holmes

Derek Hunter

Nzinga Hutchinson

Kevan Jackson

Erika Jones

Jeffrey Jones

Jowanda Jones

Lakeisha Jordan

Peter and Lisa Kamarchik

Deidre Keller

Thomas and Margaret Keller

Mitzi Kincaid

KONTEK SYSTEMS Inc.

T.L. Larry

Lydia Lavelle

Bahiya Lawrence

Alyssa Levine

Stephanie Locke

Chua Lo-Yang

Amina Mack

Detrece McMillon

Lawrence T. McPhail

Amy Mitchell

Dorothy Mitchell

Joseph Mitchiner

Reginald Mombrun

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

Khadeeja Mullard-Clements

Sommer Murphy

Dorothy Nachman

Cynthia Nance

Camille Nelson

Eboni Nelson

B. Anthony Norman

Chimezie Okobi

Susan Olive

Nina Olson

Phillip Parker

Regina Parker

Staris Powell

Carla Pratt

Vivian Redd

LaVonda Reed

Joshua Richardson

Calvin Ricks

William and Peggy Ricks

Patricia Roberts

Michael and Mary Robinson

Joseph Sansom

Sean Scott

Wendy Scott

Sudha Setty

Jason Sherrill

Yvonne Simmons

Glenda Small

Chester Smith

Gregory Speirs

John Stephenson

Jessica Stevens-Tuttle

Erogers Stinson

Terrance Taylor

Angus Thompson

Tracy Thompson

Aubrey and Sharon Turner

Mrs. Stephen Valentine

Jean Warren

Robert Waterman

Natalie Watson

Sharita Whitaker

Fred Williams

Margaret Zircher

SUPPORTER

$1 - $99

Yolanda Anderson

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

Norja Banks

Ashley Benefield

Karen Boardley

Geraldine Boone

Kayla Britt

Chance Services

Fredrick and Judith Davis

Salena Davis-Woods

Gail Dejournette

Carolyn Dillard

Johanna Finkelstein

Olivia Fisher

Onica Fuller

Wilma Gardner

Velma Haynes

Margaret Holmes

Gwendolyn and Robert Hudson

Ashley Johnson

Deborah Johnson-Reeder

Adolphus Jones and Shelly

Mitchell-Jones

Dax Jones

H K

Lisa Kirscht

John Lindsey

Joyvan Malbon-Griffin

Cierra McEachern

Microsoft Corporation Matching Gifts Program

Minerva J Mims

Christine Mitchell

Preston Mitchum

Romeo Mosely Jr.

Selina Mumford

Lawrence Nestler

John Owens

LaNelle Owens

Mary Parrish

Cynthia Pullen

Gloria Reddon

Valencia Rias-Winstead

Cora Ricks

Gwendolyn Ricks

Ms. Robertson

Chester Rouse

Dillon Sharpe

Marcus Shields

Malinda Simmons

Katrina Smith

Stanley Sprague

Cassandra Stokes

Kevin Stokes

Al-Lynn Symmons

Samantha Thorne

Lori Warlick

Suzanne Wasiolek

Larissa Willamson

Rose Williams

Thank You