Seven Receive 2025 Citizen Lawyer Awards

The North Carolina Bar Association honored seven new recipients of the Citizen Lawyer Award at the 2025 Annual Meeting in Asheville. Will Walton, who served as chair of the Membership Engagement Committee, presented the awards.

This year’s recipients are:

The Citizen Lawyer Award was established in 2007 “to recognize and thank lawyers who, in addition to their legal work or pro bono work, exemplify the ideals of a citizen lawyer by volunteering their time for worthy community or civic causes to improve the quality of life of those in their local or statewide communities. This award recognizes role models whose longstanding commitment and dedication to their volunteering inspire other lawyers to invest their time and talents in service-oriented activities.”

The honor roll of Citizen Lawyer Award recipients now lists 229 individuals following the recognition of this year’s honorees. Walton’s introductory remarks for each recipient follow.

John R. Cella Jr.

John Cella is a man with brown hair. He wears a white shirt, dark grey suit and maroon and blue striped tie.John Cella Jr. is of counsel with Ragsdale Liggett PLLC in Raleigh. He is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law and counsels clients in trust, estate, business, and related tax planning matters.

John brings not only professional excellence to his legal practice but also a strong sense of purpose to everything he does – whether supporting his church, uplifting local students, or guiding his profession with integrity and generosity. John is a model of quiet leadership, community service, and deep personal commitment.

John is an active and dedicated member of White Memorial Presbyterian Church, where he has served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, usher, confirmation partner, and Scout leader. He has also loaned his leadership to numerous church committees, including the Community Service, Personnel, and Weekday School Committees.

Education and youth development have long been central to John’s community involvement.

He was a founding board member and past president of the Aldert Root Elementary School Educational Foundation and served on both the board of directors and the board of advisors for the Needham B. Broughton High School Capital Foundation, helping secure resources to enhance student experiences and expand educational opportunities regardless of financial background. John loaned his talents to the Wake Education Partnership as a member of the School Finance Committee.

John’s broader civic contributions include serving on the board – and later as president – of St. Saviour’s Center (now the Diaper Train), an outreach ministry supporting low-income families. He’s also brought joy to senior residents as a bingo caller at the Carriage House, a Raleigh Housing Authority community.

John has also been deeply involved with the NCBF pro bono and civic education programs. He demonstrates an admirable level of commitment to service through the profession.

Joan Davis

B. Joan Davis is a white woman with brown hair. She wears a white blouse and black blazer.Joan Davis is an owner and senior litigator at Howard Stallings Law Firm.

She is a well-respected condemnation and eminent domain attorney with more than 30 years of experience. Joan has made a lasting impact through her dedication to community service. For more than 15 years, she has been the driving force behind Art for Hospice, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit co-founded with her daughter, Emma Astrike-Davis. The idea was born from a personal experience at St. Saviour’s Center when Joan’s grandmother entered a nursing home.  Emma, then 12, saw how her artwork helped brighten her great-grandmother’s space and spirit.

From that moment, Art for Hospice was born, with a mission to bring student-created artwork to individuals in hospices, hospitals, and nursing homes. To date, Art for Hospice has distributed over 6,000 pieces of student art to participating organizations across the globe and has received both national and local recognition for its impact.

Joan played a pivotal role in the creation and growth of the organization, incorporating the nonprofit, serving on its board of trustees, and fundraising.

In addition, Joan is a committed advocate for education. She serves on the board of trustees for Cary Academy, where she contributes to school governance and long-range planning. She is especially active on the board’s Governance and Equity and Inclusion Committee, working to create an equitable and inclusive environment in which every student can thrive.

Peter J. Juran

Peter Juran is a man with grey hair and a beard and mustache. He wears a white shirt, red tie and light grey suit.Peter Juran is a trial attorney at Blanco Tackabery, bringing over 30 years of litigation experience to his clients. Peter’s practice spans various areas, including employment law, construction law, and intellectual property litigation.

Peter is dedicated to community service across Winston-Salem and the broader region. A passionate and highly engaged civic leader, Peter has spent decades helping nonprofit and cultural organizations strengthen their missions and expand their impact.

Currently, Peter serves on the board of directors for Trellis Supportive Care, a role he has held since 2015, including two years as board chair. He also chairs the board of trustees for the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA), where he works closely with the chancellor on institutional priorities and strategic planning. From 2015-21, he also served on the UNCSA Foundation Board, including a term as chair.

Peter’s dedication to the arts and culture sector is longstanding. From 1996-2002, he chaired the board of the Little Theatre of Winston-Salem, leading the organization through pivotal moments and strategic change, and the Piedmont Chamber Singers. In addition, he served on the board of the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) from 2015-18, where he provided counsel on infrastructure and capital needs.

His leadership roles include chairing the boards of Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County and Leadership Winston-Salem. His earlier community service included chairing the board of trustees at Maple Springs United Methodist Church, where he helped with property acquisition and lease negotiations.

Dayatra T. Matthews

Dayatra Matthews is a Black woman with black hair. She wears a white suit. Dayatra (Day) Matthews is the Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel for Civic Federal Credit Union.

Using her charisma and communication skills, she brings people together to accomplish great things. She has spent a large amount of time mentoring students and young lawyers and is a regular speaker at legal seminars and continuing education events. She was a board member for Movement of Youth, a mentoring collaborative that prepares youth for success.

Dayatra has held several leadership roles that reflect her dedication to service. As president of the Tenth Judicial District Bar, she collaborated with the Wake County Bar Association to strengthen diversity across the legal community. She also served as president of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, where she championed professional development and equitable access to leadership opportunities.

Dayatra has served on the board of the Credit Union National Association, Hospice of North Carolina, and is a member of the Legal Advisory Council for the North Carolina Chamber.

She chaired the board of directors for EarthShare North Carolina, a Durham-based nonprofit that connects individuals and businesses looking to engage in environmental efforts with relevant nonprofits.

Committed to social justice and community support, Dayatra served as an executive board member of the Capital Area Section of the National Council of Negro Women. The organization supports a wide range of initiatives benefiting African American women and underserved populations, including programs through the Women’s Center of Wake County, Meals on Wheels, and Salvation Army’s Mommy and Me.

Maureen Demarest Murray

Maureen Murray is a white woman with brown hair. She wears a red dress..Maureen Murray is a partner at Fox Rothschild LLP and co-chair of the firm’s national Health Law Practice Group. Based in Greensboro, Maureen has spent over four decades shaping health care law in North Carolina. Known for her collaborative leadership and practical insight, Maureen has also mentored dozens of young attorneys – especially women – helping them grow with confidence and purpose.

Beyond her legal practice, Maureen is deeply involved in service that reflects her values. She currently serves as secretary of the board of The Arc of Greensboro, a nonprofit that advocates for and supports children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy, services, programs and education. Inspired in part by her experience as a parent of a daughter with disabilities, Maureen has played a crucial role in guiding the organization’s mission through fundraising efforts,

She is also a former board member of Horsepower Therapeutic Learning Center, a nonprofit that offers equine-assisted activities to individuals with physical and cognitive challenges. Her leadership helped the organization grow its programming to provide individuals a safe place to experience the healing power of horses.

Maureen’s community service spans decades and includes PTA and PTSO leadership at several Guilford County schools, where she championed new initiatives to improve student engagement, secure resources, and support special education. She’s received honors such as the McIver PTSA Volunteer Award and Bondurant-King Community Spirit Award for her dedication.

Meredith Nicholson

Meredith Nicholson is a founding member of NicholsonPham Law, a woman-owned firm established in 2009 that champions family law, LGBT law, estate planning, and criminal defense.

Meredith Nicholson is a white woman with dark brown hair. She wears a peach blouse and ivory blazer. Beyond her practice, Meredith is a tireless contributor to the legal and broader community. She currently serves as a State Bar councilor and director for the 16th Judicial District Bar and the Durham County Bar Association, where she helps to create a vibrant, supportive and professional community for her fellow lawyers. She is also a past president of the Durham Orange Woman Attorneys Chapter of the N.C. Association of Women Attorneys.

Meredith is a dedicated educator. She has guest lectured on domestic violence defense at North Carolina Central University School of Law and was invited to train attorneys and judges in Mexico through a National Institute for Trial Advocacy program. Fluent in Spanish, she has provided outreach on LGBT and criminal defense issues to Hispanic communities via radio, television, and public forums.

Meredith’s community service extends into the arts and healthcare. She serves on the board of the Common Woman Chorus, a diverse, LGBTQIA+-centered musical ensemble dedicated to equity, inclusion, and cultural enrichment through music. She is a former executive board member of the Women’s Birth and Wellness Center in Chapel Hill, where she offered support and guidance to help WBWC achieve its mission of providing people of diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds with comprehensive healthcare.

Ford Robertson

B. Ford Robertson is a white man with brown hair. He wears a white shirt and black suit.Ford Robertson serves as the managing partner of the Raleigh office of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP.

Ford’s practice encompasses virtually all aspects of commercial real estate, with a focus on real estate development, investment, and leasing.

Beyond his legal achievements, Ford is committed to giving back and has made it a priority to serve the Triangle community through active citizenship. He has served on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club of Wake County and the Raleigh Rescue Mission.

In 2024, Ford devoted over 200 pro-bono hours to the Boys and Girls Club –

leading a successful merger with Johnston County’s My Kids Club and securing an expanded facility in Raleigh’s Brentwood community. The project will double the Club’s capacity and significantly enhance services to local youth.

Ford’s work with education-centered organizations includes serving for many years on the board of directors of Communities in Schools of Wake County, including as board president. The chapter of this national organization ensures that every student receives the support they need to succeed and realize their potential in school.

Ford’s civic leadership includes roles as general counsel on the executive committee of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Wake County Economic Development Corporate Recruitment Committee. In both roles, he champions Raleigh as a destination for business and talent.

Russell Rawlings is director of external affairs and communications for the North Carolina Bar Association.