Center Director and Retreat Moderator Participate in Proposal for Inter-professional Humanities Project at the University of North Carolina.
Center Director David Hostetler and retreat co-moderator and UNC Law Professor Patricia Bryan have joined in a project proposal spearheaded by UNC Medical School's Chris Osmond to offer a year-long humanities and the professions program in which UNC Schools of Medicine, Law, Government and Education would engage their students and faculty in year-long inter-disciplinary discussions based on readings in the Humanities. The program proposal also contemplates developing online resources.
Board Members and Director Lead CLE Sessions (February 2009).
On February 5, 2009 Board Chairman Ozzie Ayscue and Center Director David Hostetler lead a session at the Annual CLE program offered in Southern Pines, North Carolina by the North Carolina Bar Association's Quality of Life Committee. On February 6, 2009, Board Member and Treasure Martin Brinkley led a session at UNC Law School's Festival of Legal Learning. Both sessions addressed topics in the humanities as sources of professional guidance and renewal.
Center Offers Fall Retreat (October 2008).
The Center completed another stimulating retreat at the Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, North Carolina on October 20-23, 2009. The retreat included a wide mix of participants: veteran lawyers from firms of varied sizes and practices, three judges, a law school professor and administrator, three law students, a legal aid attorney, and two lawyer couples. As anticipated, discussions were spirited and opinions diverse. For the first time, the Center afforded participants 16 hours of CLE professional credits (1 1/4 years worth). The program received some of the highest evaluations ever, due in large part to recommendations from past participants.
Center Alumnus, Wade Smith, to Receive Renaissance Lawyer Award from State Bar Association (April 2008).
The North Carolina Bar Association has announced that Center board member Wade M. Smith, partner in the Raleigh law firm of Tharrington Smith, has been selected as the 2008 recipient of the H. Brent McKnight Renaissance Lawyer Award. A former state legislator who served as defense counsel in the Duke lacrosse case, Smith will be honored at the 2008 NCBA Annual Meeting in June. More information is available on the Bar Association website.
Center holds Introductory Seminar for Bar and Civic Leaders (February 2008).
A February 1-2, 2008 Introductory Seminar in Law and the Humanities was held in Winston-Salem at the Graylyn Conference Center. The Seminar was generously sponsored by the Winston-Salem law firm of Womble, Carlysle, Sandridge & Rice. Co-moderators, Dr. Gerald Postema and E. Osborne Ayscue, Jr., led spirited discussions based on works like the movie version of Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, and Leo Tolstoy’s, The Death of Ivan Ilych. Some participants informed Center members that it was the best or one of the best professional education programs they ever attended. For more information, see the program agenda and roster of participants (PDF).
Board Member, Willis Whichard, Receives James Iredell Award (February 2008).
Campbell University School of Law awarded Willis Whichard the 2008 Justice James Iredell Award, given to recipients for their professional accomplishment and tenacity within the legal vocation. Judge Whichard is the former Dean of the Campbell Law School. More information is available on the Campbell Law School website.
Board Member, Erna Womble, Receives Distinguished Service Award (January 2008).
Board member Erna A. P. Womble, a partner with the Winston-Salem law firm of Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge and Rice, has received the Distinguished Service Award from the Liability Advisory Council. More information is available on her firm’s website.
Center Receives Grant from NC Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism (July 2007)
The Center received it’s second grant in as many years from the CJCP, an ongoing supporter which provided one of the first grants to help formally launch the Center in 2006. CJCP Director, Mel Wright, has served as a member of the Center’s board of directors.
Center Issues Inaugural Newsletter (June 2007)
The first edition of the Center's newsletter, Renewal, was issued and provides an account of the Center's inaugural seminar for lawyers and judges (with participant photos) and information about the Center's mission.
Board Members, Ozzie Ayscue and Henry Frye, Honored (July 2007)
At its annual convention, the North Carolina Bar Association recognized two Center board members for their long records of distinguished service. The Hon. Henry E. Frye received the Judge John J. Parker Award. Center Board Chairman Osborne E. ("Ozzie") Ayscue, Jr. received the H. Brent McKnight Renaissance Lawyer Award. (Board Member, Erna Womble, presented the award to Mr. Ayscue.) See the Bar Association stories concerning Judge Frye and Mr. Ayscue.
Center Receives Bar Foundation Grant (June 2007)
The N.C. Bar Association Foundation awarded the Center a $5,000 grant to expand its programming for 2007. This is the second consecutive year the Foundation has supported the Center's work.
Board Members to Lead Duke Lacrosse Investigative Panel (May 2007)
Center Board member and chair of its Program Committee, Willis Whichard, was appointed by the Durham City Council to lead a review panel to examine the Durham Police Department's handling of the Duke lacrosse investigation. Board Member, Wade Barber, was named legal counsel to the panel. See the news articles regarding Mr. Whichard’s and Mr. Barber’s appointments or more information.
NC Central Law School Seminar (May 2007)
The Center offered another of its Law and Humanities Seminars to 2nd & 3rd-year students at N.C. Central Law School in the Spring 2007 semester. Indicative of the probing and reflective nature of the seminar, one student commented, "This class has been a blessing to me.... [It] has given me perspective that I fear many of my colleagues will simply not have when they graduate."
Inaugural Seminar for Lawyers Hits the Mark (March 2007)
The Center's pilot seminar for lawyers and judges was held March 14-17 at the Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, N.C. Participants and facilitators discussed topics of law and morality, justice, the ideals and challenges of the profession, and other issues of concern. Participants provided valuable feedback and high praise for the program. Participant, D. G. Martin, published his account of the event in an article that appeared online the following week.