Get Involved And Engaged, Senior Lawyers Division Leadership Beckons
Two longtime leaders of the legal profession, in keeping with the grandest tradition of the NCBA Senior Lawyers Division (SLD), are devoting their time and attention toward increasing involvement and engagement in the division this year.
Judge Richard Doughton
Judge Richard Doughton of Sparta, who currently serves as chair, and Judge Robert C. Hunter of Marion, who serves as chair-elect, are but the latest in a long line of distinguished members to provide leadership service to this vital sector of the NCBA family.
They are also prime examples of the benefits of staying active beyond the age of 65, which just happens to be the minimum age requirement for the SLD. Doughton still maintains chambers in the Alleghany County Courthouse, where he presently serves as a Retired Recall Judge. He can also be found holding court just down the street in the courthouse annex that has been named in his honor.
Hunter, meanwhile, enjoys double-duty as an associate justice on the Supreme Court of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and as chair of the N.C. Property Tax Commission.
In addition to staying active, Doughton and Hunter are both staunch advocates for the Senior Lawyers Division and its push to increase engagement.
“I think the major goal is to get more people who are eligible to be involved in the Senior Lawyers Division,” Doughton said. “Bob and I have talked about wanting to get more involvement in it. The other thing, which is one of the big things that we do and will be more for Bob to do next year, is the banquet for the Legal Practice Hall of Fame.
Judge Robert C. Hunter
“That banquet will be in the fall when we have our meeting. The bar was generous enough to provide funding so that we can have enough money to have two meetings – one in the fall and one in the spring.”
The 2023 SLD Spring Meeting will be held May 11-12 in New Bern.
“I hope we can improve our attendance at our meetings in the future. And Bob and I are going to make some personal contacts to try and get that done.”
“That’s right,” Hunter added. “And try to do a little bit more marketing too that goes out to our people who are eligible.”
Hunter counts himself among those who didn’t immediately warm to the notion of being a senior lawyer, much less a member of the Senior Lawyers Division.
“I admit that I resisted the Senior Lawyers Division for a lot longer than I was eligible,” Hunter said, “but I guess that I didn’t want to admit I was a senior lawyer! And I don’t say that I am old – I never say that – it’s just that I’m not young anymore. Erwin Fuller was one of the ones who talked me into getting involved. He’s my wife’s first cousin and someone who has been very active in the division, and a former chair.
“It has really added a lot to my feeling that I’m involved with the profession. It’s been something that I’ve enjoyed. Richard’s been very active and of course (Immediate Past Chair) Doris Bray and so many others.”
The current and incoming chair agree wholeheartedly on the importance of staying active and engaged, crediting the Senior Lawyers Division and the NCBA for encouraging their participation. Not only do NCBA members become members of the Senior Lawyers Division when they reach the age of 65, there is no charge for being a member of the division.
All that’s required is to take that first step.
“I guess we don’t think about joining because we’re automatically a member, but you’ve got to take some action to be a part of it,” Hunter said. “We have two good meetings a year – one in the spring and one in the fall – and it would be nice to have more people at these meetings. I think they would get a lot out of it.”
The benefits of engagement, Doughton added, are especially important coming out of the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I don’t know how people who are retired who have been locked up in the house for the last three years have survived, because it’s about killed me! And being involved no more than I have been involved, but just being active, is what I would be encouraging people to do. I think it’s really good for you mentally.
“That’s why I’m still active as a Retired Recall Judge, because I’ve done a lot as a Special Judge for 20 and a half years and I’ve been an Emergency Judge now for the last five, and I think it keeps me active and keeps my mind working better just being able to do the work. As long as I feel I’m confident, I plan to keep doing some work as long as they keep assigning me. I enjoy it, and I also enjoy seeing my friends.”
“I totally agree,” Hunter said. “I retired from the Court of Appeals in 2014. I had a little bit of time left and could have run again, but it would have been a short time and it really wasn’t worth the effort you had to go through. So I retired, and in April of 2015 I found out there was a vacancy on the (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) Supreme Court.
“The principal chief appoints you and you have to be confirmed by the Tribal Council, which they did, so I have been fortunate to have been there now over six years as an Associate Justice. So that’s one thing, and then Governor Cooper appointed me to the Property Tax Commission in June of 2017, and appointed me as chairman, so I get to go to Raleigh once a month for four days, and that really keeps me involved as well.”
Increased involvement in the Senior Lawyers Division, Hunter said, has also been enjoyable.
“I think Richard is going to have an active year, and I’m looking forward to working with him,” Hunter said. “He and I have known each other for a long time, and I think we work well together. We’re going to try to bring up the activity of the Senior Lawyers Division, and if others have some suggestions on how we can do that, we’d be glad to hear from them.”
“I’m really happy to have Bob coming on as the chair next year,” Doughton added, “because there’s not anybody in this state who’s any more respected than Bob is. And he’s known throughout North Carolina. He’s been a fine judge, well respected all over the state, and he knows people all over the state.
“We could not have a better chair next year than Bob Hunter in my opinion.”
Russell Rawlings is director of external affairs and communications for the North Carolina Bar Association.