Meet in the Middle.
About me
Professional Background & Experience:
- Retired Chief Judge of the Cherokee Court, the trial tribunal for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Elon University School of Law.
- Adjunct Instructor of Law, University of North Carolina School of Law.
- Four-year Term Law Clerk for U.S. District Judge Martin K. Reidinger (W.D.N.C.).
- Over 35 years of general civil and criminal litigation practice in state and federal court including such areas as federal criminal defense, federal Indian law, habeas corpus, constitutional law, civil rights, family law, computer litigation, banking and bankruptcy, social security law, commercial real estate, sales and secured transactions, and construction litigation.
Certifications & Special Recognition:
- NC Dispute Resolution Commission Certified Mediator, Family Financial Settlements (NC District Court).
- NC Dispute Resolution Commission Certified Mediator, Mediated Settlement Conferences (NC Superior Court).
- Approved mediator for the U.S. District Court, Western District of N.C.
- Approved mediator for the U.S. District Court, Middle District of N.C.
- Previously, I have been granted a Top Secret (TS) security clearance issued by the U.S. Department of Justice which permitted my possession and review of Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).
Notable Events:
- Invited to testify before the Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, concerning “The Use and Misuse of Presidential Clemency Power for Executive Branch Officials,” July 2007.
- Lead Counsel and Principal Arguing Counsel in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. 338 (2007).
- Lead Counsel and Sole Moving Counsel in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Austin v. United States, 513 U.S. 5 (1994) (resolved without the necessity of oral argument).
- Trauma-informed certified, and previously North Carolina licensed, Therapeutic Foster Parent.
- Federal Aviation Administration licensed private pilot.
education & bar admissions
Attended North Carolina public schools and graduated high school in Hendersonville, NC.
Bachelor of Arts, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Dean’s List and Chancellor’s List
Teaching Assistant, Department of Anthropology
Star Projector Operator, University Planetarium
Juris Doctor, University of North Carolina School of Law, Chapel Hill, NC
Dean’s List
Research Editor, The North Carolina Journal of International Law
Co-Founder and Business Manager of law school news publication, Mere Dictum
Three-year recipient of Student Bar Association Certificate of Service
Research Assistant to Professor Sally Sharp
Teaching Assistant for the course, “Research, Reasoning, Writing, and Advocacy”
Admitted to practice law in:
The State of North Carolina.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.
The United States Supreme Court.
The District of Columbia.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.