NCSB Journal Spring 2026

DEPARTMENTS 5 President’s Message 6 State Bar Outlook 24

34 36 40

47 48 50

IOLTA Update Rule Amendments

Client Security Fund

Distinguished Service Award

Ethics Committee Update

Random Audits

Lawyer Assistance Program

27 30 32

BAR UPDATES 31

Legal Specialization

Upcoming Appointments

The Disciplinary Department

39

In Memoriam

Pathways to Well-Being

Officers Katherine A. Frye, Raleigh President 2025-2026 Kevin G. Williams, Winston-Salem

Executive Director Peter G. Bolac

20: Joshua D. Malcolm, Pembroke 21: F. Davis Poisson III, Wadesboro 22: Judge Jason E. Ramey, Wentworth 23: Judge Tom Langan, Pilot Mountain 24: Judge Patrice A. Hinnant, Greensboro Manisha P. Patel, Greensboro 24H: Kathleen E. Nix, High Point Fred W. DeVore III, Charlotte M. Heath Gilbert Jr., Charlotte George V. Laughrun II, Charlotte Craig T. Lynch, Charlotte Gena Graham Morris, Charlotte Judge Nancy Black Norelli, Charlotte Timika Shafeek-Horton, Charlotte 27: T. Gregory Jones, Salisbury 28: Bobby Khan, Monroe 29: Matthew Rothbeind, Carthage 30: Judge Nathan Hunt Gwyn III, Monroe 31: Judge George M. Cleland IV, Winston-Salem 32: Daryl G. Davidson Sr., Taylorsville 33: Shawn L. Fraley, Lexington 34: John G. Vannoy Jr., North Wilkesboro 35: Vacant 36: Timothy J. Rohr, Lenoir 37: Judge Vance B. Long, Asheboro 38: Michael R. Neece, Gastonia 39: Ret. Judge Jim Morgan, Shelby 40: Gill Beck, Asheville 41: Merrimon B. Oxley, Forest City 42: Michael A. Lovejoy, Hendersonville 43: Zeyland G. McKinney, Murphy Public Members Patricia Head, Littleton Samantha McKenzie Holmes, Morrisville Damon Seils, Carrboro 25: Amanda Reed, Concord 26: Stacy C. Cordes, Charlotte

Associate Director and Chief Ethics Counsel Brian P.D. Oten Counsel Carmen H. Bannon Editor Jennifer R. Duncan Communications Committee Damon Seils (Public Member), Chair Judge Tom Langan, Vice-Chair Thomas D. Anglim Julie Beavers (Advisory Member) Judge Takiya Lewis Blalock Ashley Campbell (Advisory Member) Andrea Capua (Advisory Member) Judge George M. Cleland IV Amy Davis (Advisory Member) Margaret Dickson (Advisory Member) Dionne Loy Fortner M. Heath Gilbert Jr. Patricia Head (Public Member) Samantha McKenzie Holmes (Public Member) T. Gregory Jones Gena Graham Morris Kathleen E. Nix Judge Ashleigh S. Parker F. Davis Poisson III Bill Powers (Advisory Member) Judge Jason E. Ramey Brandon A. Robinson David L. Sherlin G. Gray Wilson (Advisory Member)

President-Elect 2025-2026 David N. Allen, Charlotte Vice-President 2025-2026 Matthew W. Smith, Eden Past-President 2025-2026

Peter G. Bolac, Cary Secretary 2025-2026 Councilors By Judicial District 1:

John D. Leidy, Elizabeth City Tom D. Anglim, Washington Judge Jeffrey B. Foster, Greenville Scott C. Hart, New Bern Kevin Joseph Kiernan, Clinton Will Oden III, Wilmington Judge Takiya Lewis Blalock, Ahoskie

2: 3: 4: 5: 6: 7: 8: 9:

Michael B. Peters, Tarboro

J. Mark Herring, Kinston 10: Judge Julie L. Bell, Raleigh Anna Davis, Raleigh Judge Keith Gregory, Raleigh Jessica Heffner, Raleigh Kimberly A. Moore, Raleigh Judge Ashleigh Parker, Raleigh David Sherlin, Raleigh 11: J. Thomas Burnette, Oxford 12: Heather Williams, Dunn 13: Dionne Loy Fortner, Smithfield 14: H. Lee Boughman Jr., Fayetteville 15: Kyle Melvin, Elizabethtown 16: Meredith Nicholson, Durham Brandon Robinson, Durham 17: Kristen DelForge, Burlington 18: Fran Muse, Chapel Hill

SPRING 2026

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