Center for Law and the Humanities

News Page

Board Member, 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 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.

Center Moves into New Offices (January 2008).

As of January 1, the Center has a new home in Chapel Hill. The Law Firm of Lewis, Anderson, Phillips & Hinkle has provided spacious offices and meeting space at a subsidized rate to support the Center’s work. We are now conveniently located between Chapel Hill and Durham just a minute’s drive from the intersection of I-40 and SR 15-501. Our new street address is: The Atrium, 141 Providence Road, Suite 220, Chapel Hill, NC 27514. Directions are available on the Lewis Anderson 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 $5,0000 grant to expand its programming for 2007. This is the second consecutive year the Foundation has supported the Center's work.

Board Members to Leads 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. Wichard’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." The class syllabus and readings are available online.

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. Program information (PDF), including the agenda and roster are available online. 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.