NCSB Journal Summer 2026

freeze on NC IOLTA’s grantmaking stretched into the second quarter of the funding year. The provision barring grantmaking was included in legislation enacted in July 2025. In October, Irvine and Bolac were called to testify before the House Select Committee on Oversight and Reform about the struc ture, governance, and history of the pro gram as well as its role in supporting access to civil legal services across the state. No further hearings have occurred. In 2025, 42 organizations were awarded $12M in grants. The loss of anticipated NC

IOLTA funding for 2026 has led to budget shortfalls for numerous legal aid organiza tions, which are often the only providers of free and sliding-scale civil legal services in rural and high-poverty communities. Due to the legislative freeze, North Carolina is currently the only state in the nation that does not fund civil legal aid through IOLTA grantmaking, which comes at no cost to attorneys, their clients, or taxpayers. NC IOLTA and State Bar leadership remain committed to the pro gram’s mission to improve the lives of North Carolinians by strengthening the jus multiple rule violations including practicing while her law license was suspended, failing to refund unearned fees to former clients, making a false statement of material fact or law to a third person, and collecting legal fees after the effective date of the suspension of her law license. On April 17, 2026, the DHC entered an order granting the State Bar’s mo tion to dismiss the petition. Exum filed notice of appeal. Transfers to Disability Inactive Status W. Travis Barkley of Raleigh was trans ferred to disability inactive status by consent order entered by the chair of the Grievance Committee on April 14, 2026.

tice system as a leader, partner, and funder and continue to seek a resolution to reopen funding opportunities for the providers of these critical services. “We at NC IOLTA are very proud of our decades-long partnership with North Carolina’s legal aid community as we work in service of equal justice under the law,” Irvine emphasized. “Providing steady sup port to our grant partners remains our high est priority.” Learn more about NC IOLTA and find the most up-to-date news on these issues at nciolta.org/media-resources. n Jonathon E. Speight of Smithfield was transferred to disability inactive status by con sent order entered by the chair of the Grievance Committee on April 7, 2026. Authorized Practice Committee Actions Joseph Starr, an attorney licensed to practice in Montana, received a Letter of Caution for representing a North Carolina resident in a personal injury matter. Betty Rochelle Long received a Letter of Caution for filing post-conviction motions on behalf of a defendant, noting that she held a power of attorney for him. Logan Wyant received a Letter of Caution for signing and filing pleadings in a lawsuit. n

Grievance Committee and DHC Actions (cont.)

disbarment for misappropriating entrusted funds to which his employer was entitled. After a hearing in May 2025, the DHC entered an order recommending that the petition be de nied. Blackmon filed a notice of appeal, and the matter was heard by the State Bar Council at its January 2026 meeting. On January 23, 2026, the State Bar Council entered an Order of Reinstatement granting Blackmon’s petition for reinstatement to the practice of law. Mary March Exum of Asheville sought reinstatement from her 2019 disbarment for

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THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR JOURNAL