NCBA Citizen Lawyer Awards Presented at Annual Meeting
The 2023 North Carolina Bar Association Citizen Lawyer Awards were presented on Friday, June 23, at the NCBA Annual Meeting in Wilmington. The awards were presented during the Awards Dinner and Presidential Installation by the Hon. Patrice Hinnant, a retired District and Superior Court judge and previous recipient of the Citizen Lawyer Award.
The following coverage includes background information on each recipient as provided during the ceremony. And, although time does not permit for the honorees to respond during the event, many of the recipients did respond to a follow-up request for comments which are included in this article.
Citizen Lawyer Award winners, front from left: Judge Paul Jones, Robert McIntosh, Ronald Payne and Blaine Sanders; and, back, Robert Wall, center, joined by Executive Director Jason Hensley, left, and President Clayton Morgan.
“The North Carolina Bar Association’s Citizen Lawyer Award,” Judge Hinnant stated, “has been presented since 2007 in recognition of the contributions of citizen lawyers across the state who volunteer their time for worthy civic and community causes, including service to non-profits and community organizations, public service projects, military and government service, and service to schools or churches.
“It has been my pleasure to serve on the Local Bar Outreach Subcommittee this year, and to see what members of our bar do outside the practice of law to make North Carolina a better place for its citizens. The recipients today have excelled in contributing to their communities in diverse ways.”
2023 Citizen Lawyer Award Recipients
Stanley (Stan) Abrams, Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, Durham
Prior to the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, Stan worked as a Pitt County Staff Attorney and served as Assistant Attorney General for the North Carolina Department of Justice. Stan then joined the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, where he represents property owners and citizens impacted by eminent domain laws. He is an active and influential member of his church in Wilson, and he teaches and lectures at North Carolina Wesleyan University and Wilson Community College. He has served on numerous boards of non-profits and currently sits on the board of the Durham Rescue Mission.
Steve Berlin, Office Managing Partner of Kilpatrick Townsend, Winston-Salem
Steve has volunteered his time for nearly four decades to worthy community and civic causes to improve the quality of life of those in the Triad and beyond. Steve is known as a longtime advocate for the arts. He has served various organizations, including the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Arts Council, the Winston-Salem Alliance, and Forsyth Futures, just to name a few. Steve also has served on the Board of Trustees for the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
“I have always felt that our communities need the skills, insights, and understanding that lawyers have,” Berlin said. “Many opportunities to serve have come my way because I was willing to say yes and take a chance to learn.
“I certainly have gained much more than I have given from my service. It has, in so many ways, expanded and enriched my vision.”
Marvin V. Horton Jr., Tarboro
Marvin has served on the Board of Trustees for the Vidant Edgecombe Hospital Foundation, and has been recognized by the United Way Tar River Region with its Distinguished Service Award for 50 years of service. In the 1990s, Marvin led the fight against a major meat slaughtering company to deny the construction of a hog slaughtering plant in Edgecombe County.
His tireless work and leadership in this effort – what one nomination letter referred to as a “David and Goliath story” – brought community members together to collaborate and formed relationships that have continued into the present, with a focus on reining in the impacts of the industry on rural communities.
“There’s an activist in each of us,” said Horton. “Lawyers, by nature and profession, are positioned to select causes to pursue. While I appreciate lawyers must make a living to be available to champion beliefs, the key is not hesitating when action needs to be taken – even when it means taking a cause pro bono.
“I have always been interested in preservation efforts, particularly in Eastern North Carolina, which made acting on protecting Edgecombe County from negative environmental impacts a natural cause to pursue pro bono. The reward? I invite you to Edgecombe County to see for yourself!”
The. Hon. Paul L. Jones, Greensboro
Judge Jones began his career as a staff attorney and assistant clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States. From there, his career spanned military service, Legal Services of North Carolina, private practice, District Court Judge, and, lastly, Superior Court Judge and Senior Resident Superior Court Judge. He retired from the bench after 26 years of service.
Jones currently serves the profession and the community by commitments as chair of the Board of Management of the Hayes Taylor YMCA in Greensboro, president of the Greensboro Rotary, president of the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers and a member of the Board of Trustees for North Carolina A&T State University. Judge Jones’ nomination says it best: “He is respected as a good lawyer, a good person, and best of all, a good public servant.”
“I consider the Citizen Lawyer Award at the annual meeting this year one of the highlights of my career,” Jones said. “Community service has always been one of my passions as I have practiced law in many venues over a long career.
“After I was released from active duty, I returned to my hometown of Kinston and began the private practice of law. My personal philosophy was you can’t be excluded from contributing if you make yourself inclusive in all that is going on in your community. This allowed me to serve on the school board, hospital board, and over 30 nonprofit boards.
“In 1996 I became a District Court Judge, and in 1999, I became a Superior Court Judge. I made an attempt to retire at the end of my term in December 2016 but became an Emergency Superior Court Judge in April 2017. I discovered there is no feeling like giving back to the communities that have given us so much over the years, and we are all richer for it.”
John T. Kilby, Kilby & Hurley, West Jefferson
John enjoys a sterling reputation in the legal community for his service to his clients. He has practiced law since 1974 and served as a District Court Judge. Additionally, John has dedicated 40 years to the Board of Pisgah Legal Services for access to legal services for the financially challenged people needing legal assistance in the surrounding area.
“It’s obviously a great honor, and a totally unexpected honor,” Kilby said. “It makes you feel good to think that your peers think enough of you to nominate you for this award. I am very proud of having received it.
“I taught at Durham Technical Institute for a couple of years, during which time I applied to law school at North Carolina Central University and got in. I knew I wanted to come back up here even before I went to law school, and it has been a very rewarding experience. I’m going on 48 years and don’t have any plans to quit.”
Robert G. McIntosh, McIntosh Law Firm, Davidson
Bob established The McIntosh Law Firm in 1997 to make a positive difference in the greater Lake Norman community by providing local, accessible legal services. He is a pillar of the community who is well known for numerous volunteer activities in the local community.
Bob’s deep commitment to civic service includes decades-long contributions and leadership to the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce, Historic Rural Hill, the Hope House Foundation, and the Grand Lodge of Ancient and Accepted Freemasons of North Carolina.
“Our firm tagline,” McIntosh said, is “‘Committed to our clients; Committed to our community.’ It reflects our ‘client-first approach’ to the practice and then acknowledges that we rise and fall with the community. Our clients, staff, court officials, jurors, prospective employees, etc., are all part of the community.
“We have to make our community the best it can be to maximize our options in all of those necessary individuals to our practice. We literally fortify the soil from which we grow. Doing so gives us extraordinary options when filling those roles.”
Ronald K. Payne, The Van Winkle Law Firm, Asheville
Upon admission to the bar in 1977, Ron engaged in the private practice of law in Asheville, concentrating primarily in civil litigation. In 1995, he was appointed by Governor James B. Hunt Jr. as Resident Superior Court Judge for the 28th Judicial District. Ron retired as a judge at the end of 2008 and returned to the private practice of law.
He is a member of Central United Methodist Church and the Royal Brigade of Guards, as well as a former board member of the Western North Carolina Nature Center. Ron has served Buncombe County in a number of ways, from coaching local youth baseball and basketball teams to creating the Adult Drug Treatment Court of Buncombe County and serving as former chairman of the Buncombe County Democratic Party.
“As a young lawyer attempting to establish a law practice, I did not think I had any time to spare,” Payne said. “Once I became involved in community endeavors, I found that the rewards that I received, both professionally and personally, were greater than I could ever imagine.
“As a profession, we are supposed to help folks. I believe this extends beyond the pure practice of law. As I said, the good feeling you receive when you do become involved in your community is something that is priceless.”
Blaine Sanders, Robinson Bradshaw, Charlotte
As director of pro bono services at Robinson Bradshaw, Blaine recruits lawyers of all experience levels, pairing them with pro bono opportunities that address different needs in the community. Blaine serves as outside general counsel to Alexander Youth Network, supporting the organization in taking care of children with serious emotional and behavioral problems who come from low-income families.
Blaine’s service doesn’t end there. Blaine was on the board of directors for the Center for Community Transitions for over 30 years. He was also a Dilworth Little League coach and served on the league’s board of directors for 13 years. Blaine’s commitment and leadership is a testament of his desire to improve the quality of life of citizens in his community. As quoted from his nomination: “He exemplifies the best of our profession, combining a brilliant mind with an authentic concern and care for his fellow citizens.”
“I have two thoughts about community service,” Sanders said. “First, lawyers make strong community servants. We have problem-solving abilities and advocacy skills that directly apply to community needs. And by community needs, I include pro bono legal services, an area in which only we lawyers can do the work.
“Second, practicing law can be consuming. Community service keeps that from happening. It gives perspective beyond the day-to-day work of being a lawyer. I was fortunate to have role models such as Russell Robinson, Bob Sink, Ward McKeithen and John Wester who showed me how community service would enrich my professional and personal life. And that absolutely has been the case. I’m a better lawyer and happier person for having been engaged in community service.”
Robert (Rob) Wall, Akerman LLP, Winston-Salem
Rob serves on the advisory board and is the former chair and executive committee member for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Piedmont Triad. Through his roles, Rob focuses on supporting fundraising efforts, community awareness, and providing volunteer support to further the mission of Ronald McDonald House.
Rob’s dedication to the Winston-Salem community runs deep and can be seen through his service to multiple organizations, including the local board for Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Wake Forest University’s Alumni Council, St. Paul Episcopal Church of Winston-Salem, RJ Reynolds High School Booster Club and Akerman’s Winston-Salem Community Impact Team.
“I was incredibly honored to receive the award,” Wall said. “I never really feel like the community work that I do is extra or special. As an attorney, I have always thought that helping the community was a part of the profession – that it is something we are called to do and is a part of the oath we take. I have always operated on the ‘leave things better than you found them’ premise, and try to do that daily.
“I think it is important to encourage others to do the same – whether they are my fellow attorneys or other people in the community. I take great pride in the community of Winston-Salem and the state of North Carolina, and my gratitude for what they have given to me is immeasurable. The same can be said for the NCBA and the legal community. The opportunity to give back, and the opportunity to share those gifts with others is a small ask in comparison to what I have received.”
Russell Rawlings is director of external affairs and communications for the North Carolina Bar Association.