RALEIGH, N.C. – Campbell Law School hosted six federal judges and more than 130 federal litigators for the first meeting of the Eastern District of North Carolina Federal Bar Association on Friday, Feb. 24. The continuing-education program focused on advanced issues in federal procedure. It offered perspectives from the judges and clerk’s office personnel on issues in pretrial litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Professor Matt Sawchak, who teaches civil procedure and antitrust at Campbell, and who also practices appeals, antitrust, and business litigation at Ellis & Winters LLP in Raleigh, moderated the lively program.
“I and the other members of the federal bar are grateful to Chief Judge Dever, Judge Fox, Judge Boyle, Judge Daniel, Judge Webb, and Judge Jones, as well as Ms. Richards and her colleagues, for sharing their insights with us so generously,” said Professor Sawchak. “The new FBA chapter gives us exciting opportunities to refine our advocacy and promote high standards of professionalism. This emphasis on civility and professionalism aligns perfectly with what we teach our students at Campbell Law School.”
The program began with a welcome message from FBA Chapter President Camden Webb, followed by introductory remarks by Chief Judge James C. Dever, III.
The first panel discussion, titled “A View from the Bench: Nuances of Pre-Trial Federal Litigation,” was presented by Chief Judge Dever, Judge James C. Fox, and Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The panel discussed best practices for seeking injunctive and other emergency relief, as well as approaches to dispositive motions.
“A View from the Bench: Nuances and Best Practices in Matters Before the Magistrate Judge,” presented by the Honorable David Daniel, the Honorable James Gates, and the Honorable Robert B. Jones, Jr., followed. The panel discussed referrals for determination, referrals for memoranda and recommendations, expedited relief, the scope of expert discovery, lawyers’ conduct in discovery, and common discovery disputes.
The final panel discussion, “Nuances Inside the Clerk’s Office,” was presented by clerk’s office staff members, including Chief Deputy Clerk Julie Richards, Operations Manager Jolie Skinner, jury administrator Scott Cannon, and IT director Michael Nagy. These professionals discussed common filing mistakes, how cases are assigned, how conflicts are screened, submitting documents, jury pool selection, technology in the courtroom, and other pertinent topics.
Founded in 1920, the FBA is dedicated to the advancement of the science of jurisprudence and to promoting the welfare, interests, education, and professional development of all attorneys involved in federal law. Serving as a catalyst for communication between the bar and the bench, as well as the private and public sectors, the FBA focuses on advocacy, networking, leadership, and learning.
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Since its founding in 1976, the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. The School has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation’s top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation’s best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts more than 3,200 alumni, including 2,200 who reside and work in North Carolina. For 25 years, Campbell Law’s overall record of success on the North Carolina Bar Exam has been unsurpassed by any other North Carolina law school. In September 2009, Campbell Law relocated to a state-of-the-art building in downtown Raleigh. For more information, visit http://law.campbell.edu.
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