Criminal Justice Section Honors Two Attorneys
The 18th Annual Criminal Justice Peter S. Gilchrist III & Wade M. Smith Awards Dinner was held on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the Embassy Suites in Cary.
Connie Jordan, who formerly served as Assistant District Attorney for New Hanover and Pender Counties, received the Peter S. Gilchrist Award, and Cynthia Black, who previously served as Cumberland County Chief Public Defender, received the Wade M. Smith Award.
The Criminal Justice Section established these awards to recognize individuals who demonstrate excellence in the profession.
Kimberly O. Spahos introduced each recipient. Jason Smith provided remarks before Jordan received the award, and Billy West spoke before Black was recognized. Section Chair JP Davis presented the awards to each recipient.
The Gilchrist Award is given to a prosecutor who models the pursuit of justice with attributes such as passion, courage and integrity. These qualities were embodied in Peter S. Gilchrist, who served as district attorney in Mecklenburg County for 35 years. During his career, he mentored prosecutors and exhibited values such as fairness and dedication. He had a lasting impact on the legal landscape.
Gilchrist Award recipient Connie Jordan has more than 30 years of experience as an attorney in North Carolina. She received her undergraduate degree in political science from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and her law degree from UNC School of Law. After graduating from law school, she worked in private practice. In 1997, she became Assistant District Attorney in Wilmington, where she worked for 29 years until her retirement.
Connie Jordan is the recipient of the Peter S. Gilchrist III Award.
In Spahos’s introductory remarks, she attested to Jordan’s strengths and to her impact as a prosecutor.
“Tonight’s recipient of the Gilchrist Award, Connie Jordan, carries on that legacy as a career prosecutor who handled some of the most serious cases with compassion and a fierceness that very few could match.”
During her career, Jordan has advocated for victims of violent crimes and demonstrated dedication to the law. Her nominators described her advocacy for others and for justice. She has given of her time and shared her expertise through mentoring attorneys. She also offers training for officers in law enforcement, sexual assault nurse examiners and other first responders. Her nomination included quotations from victims of crimes, individuals Jordan had advocated for during her tenure as a prosecutor. These individuals said Jordan gave them a voice. In her nomination, law enforcement partners spoke of her strength, talent, care for others, selflessness and availability to help.
The Wade M. Smith Award honors a defense attorney who illustrates the highest ideals of the profession, including determination, respect for the law and commitment to advocating for others. Wade Smith has more than 60 years of experience as a defense attorney and has served as a model to others in the field. He is known for his insight into the law and his skill as a storyteller.
The Wade M. Smith Award recipient, Cynthia Black, represented hundreds of criminal defendants throughout her career. Originally from Cumberland County, Black is a graduate of Fayetteville State University. Before she entered law school, she was on active duty in the U.S. Army and served in the reserves for 11 years. After graduating from Campbell Law School, she worked in private practice. She was an Assistant District Attorney for five years before becoming Assistant Public Defender, a role she held for close to 20 years. She served as Chief Public Defender for five years.
Cynthia Black is the recipient of the Wade M. Smith Award.
Before introducing Black as the award recipient, Spahos highlighted Black’s unwavering commitment to excellence and to assisting others.
“Tonight’s recipient of the Smith Award, Cindy Black, has upheld the highest ethical standards during her career of service, the majority of which she spent serving her community in the public defender’s office.”
In her award nomination, individuals spoke of her commitment to the legal profession and to her community. They described her dedication, kindness and compassion and the influence she has had on citizens in the county.
In addition to her work as an attorney, she has served as a volunteer in several capacities. She was the Chair of Fayetteville Cumberland County Reentry Council, which empowers, supports and encourages individuals with previous criminal records and those who reenter the community after incarceration to reintegrate into the community. Black has partnered with the District Attorney’s Office in the annual Cumberland County Expungement Clinic. She has also served with her church.
View the Criminal Justice Section page to learn more about this community, view upcoming events and get involved.