NCBA Honors Retiring Chief Justice
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Article Date: Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Written By: Russell Rawlings
The Board of Governors of the North Carolina Bar Association, convening for its quarterly meeting last week at the N.C. Bar Center, honored retiring state Supreme Court Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake Jr.
And vice versa.
NCBA Executive Director Allan Head, right, accepts award from Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake Jr. |
The honor Lake received follows in the tradition of what has become a standard feature of the NCBA’s winter meeting. Recent luncheon honorees include Judge Howard Manning, AOC Director Ralph Walker and ABA President A.P. Carlton.
The Supreme Court of North Carolina Amicus Curiae Award that Lake presented to NCBA Executive Director Allan Head, however, was a complete surprise. The award, recently established by Lake to recognize outstanding service to the state’s Judicial Branch, has only been presented to 15 individuals.
In conducting what was just the second public presentation of the new award, Lake also conferred upon Head the title of Friend of the Court.
“On a day when the spotlight was, and should have been, clearly focused on Chief Justice Lake, he very characteristically chose to turn the light on someone else,” noted Head. “Of course, it was a total surprise to me, as one could see in my reaction, but I was not surprised he would do something like this given that Chief Justice Lake has always been very unassuming and not one to seek attention for himself.
“I was humbled, not just to receive the award, but also because I know it really was a recognition of the long-time support by this association of the N.C. judiciary – the court in particular and the AOC and judicial system in general.
“The North Carolina Bar Association has been working behind the scenes, and frequently on the front lines, for years in support of more adequate funding for the third co-equal branch of government. I think this award recognizes those efforts and the support our Judicial Branch has received from many NCBA presidents, boards of governors and staff members.”
NCBA President Mike Colombo, left, presents award to retiring Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake Jr. |
Accordingly, the recognition Lake received grew out of the strong relationship he has maintained with the NCBA throughout his tenure, which concludes Jan. 30 when he reaches the state’s mandatory retirement age of 72.
Former Supreme Court colleague Robert Orr, executive director and senior counsel of the N.C. Institute for Constitutional Law, provided a delightful mixture of professional reflection and comic relief in his introductory remarks. But Lake, as usual, had the last laugh as he thanked Orr for providing commentary that was “much better than he had expected.”
NCBA President Mike Colombo presented Lake and his wife, Susan, with a magnificent Bob Timberlake print, which was personally signed by the artist and contributed in appreciation for Lake’s longtime friendship and service to the state of North Carolina.
Lake also received a plaque from the NCBA and a signed letter from President Bush arranged through the White House by the NCBA Office of Governmental Affairs.