Linda Stephens Receiving H. Brent McKnight Renaissance Lawyer Award
Linda Stephens of Raleigh is the 2020 recipient of the North Carolina Bar Association’s H. Brent McKnight Renaissance Lawyer Award.
Linda Stephens is of counsel at Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo LLP. From 2006-2016, Stephens served as an Associate Judge for the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Prior to her judgeship, she was a partner at Teague, Campbell, Dennis & Gorham, LLP, where she practiced for more than 20 years. She served as Deputy Commissioner with the North Carolina Industrial Commission from 1980 to 1984.
In 1979, Stephens was a law clerk to Judge Fred Hedrick in the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and journalism from the University of South Carolina and a Juris Doctorate from the University of North Carolina School of Law.
Stephens is delighted to receive this award. “It is such a happy experience. I would have been over the top just to be nominated. To actually be selected—I don’t have the words. It is a fantasy, a dream. It is humbling beyond description. I am so grateful people found me deserving of a nomination and award. I am stunned—stunned forever.”
Created in 2006, the award is named in honor of Judge H. Brent McKnight, who was serving in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina prior to his death. Judge McKnight was a former chair of the NCBA Professionalism Committee.
This award is especially significant to Stephens because of her service with the Professionalism Committee. “Years ago, I was a member of the Committee when they developed this award. I was one of the members who reviewed the nominations and supporting materials. I saw the accomplishments of the recipients while I was intimately involved with the process—I didn’t consider myself in the same category. We wanted to give everyone the award because they deserved it. I never expected to be nominated.”
The award seeks to recognize attorneys in North Carolina who exhibit the qualities of a “Renaissance Lawyer,” which Judge McKnight portrayed in his life and practice. These qualities include trustworthiness, respect for all people, enthusiasm for intellectual achievement and commitment to excellence in work, and service to the profession and community.
Stephens is honored to receive this award, which celebrates the legacy of an outstanding judge. “I did not have the privilege of meeting Judge McKnight. I knew him by reputation. He was an incredibly unique individual both personally and professionally, of the highest caliber.”
Previous recipients are Peter Gilchrist (2006), E. Osborne Ayscue Jr. (2007), Wade Smith (2008), Mark Bernstein (2009), Woody Connette (2010), Catharine Arrowood (2011), Mark Merritt (2012), Jon Harkavy (2013), Harrison L. Marshall Jr. (2014), Suzanne Reynolds (2015), Willis P. Whichard (2016), Martin Brinkley (2017), J. Rich Leonard (2018), and the Hon. Robert F. Orr (2019).
The McKnight Award is traditionally presented at the NCBA Annual Meeting, which was held online this year due to the coronavirus restrictions. Presentation of the award will take place at a later date.