View from the Bench: The Judge's Perspective - ON-DEMAND

On-Demand Webinar from LIVE Webinar on 10/20/24.

This CLE offers practical instruction and valuable insights directly from Superior Court judges who preside over criminal and civil cases in North Carolina. Learn what judges really think about essential topics, such as:

• what “best practices” make lawyers stand out in court,
• how to avoid the “top ten” mistakes judges see in court,
• what conduct is and is not appropriate decorum in the courtroom or on WebEx
• how lawyers can best help the trial judge make correct rulings,
• use of technology in the courtroom, common blunders and ways to maximize its effectiveness
• how to make the most of your jury selection from voir dire and use of strikes
• what lawyers can do to promote equality in the justice system
• how courtroom interactions with opposing counsel can affect your case
• how to dodge pitfalls at trial and in motion practice, and
• what lawyers can do to help the bar preserve professionalism and high ethical standards.

The following North Carolina Superior Court Judges will make up the panel:

The panel will be moderated by Asheville attorney Senta Rhodes.

3 hours North Carolina Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit

The Mediation Center is an approved CLE sponsor under the regulations promulgated by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Continuing Legal Education.

SCHEDULE

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Short presentations by each judge

3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. – BREAK

3:10 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. – Panel Discussion

3:55 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. - BREAK

4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – Question & Answer Session

PRESENTERS

Hon. Keith Gregory is a judge for the Wake County Superior Court in the 10th Judicial District of the 3rd division of North Carolina. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Roy Cooper on May 16, 2018.

Prior to his appointment, Gregory was a judge for the Wake County district court, a position to which he was named by former Governor Bev Perdue in 2010. Before that, he was a senior partner at Gregory & McClinton (2008-2010) and an attorney in the Law Office of Keith O. Gregory (2000 to 2008).

Gregory earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Virginia in 1988 and then completed his J.D. at North Carolina Central University School of Law (1994) and a master’s degree in judicial studies at Duke University School of Law (2023).

After graduating from law school, Gregory began his legal career as an assistant public defender for the Cumberland County Public Defender’s Office. He served in that capacity until 1996 when he became an assistant district attorney with the Wake County District Attorney’s Office.

His memberships have included the Board of Directors of Interfaith Food Shuttle and ReEntry Inc. He has also been involved with the Wake County Bar Association and the North Carolina Association of District Court Judges.

Hon. Imelda J. Pate is a judge for the Lenior County Superior Court in the 8th Judicial District of the 2nd Division in North Carolina. She was elected to the bench on November 8th, 2016.

Prior to her election, Pate was an assistant district attorney for the Lenior County District Attorney’s Office. In that capacity, she prosecuted major drug, felony, and murder cases, supplementing her practice with service as a special assistant United States attorney with the United States Attorney’s office in Raleigh.

Pate earned a bachelors degree from North Carolina State University in 1980. She then completed a J.D. at Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law in 1983.

Her memberships have included the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys, the Lenior County Bar Assocation, the Eastern American Inn of Court, and the Lenior County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council.l She has also taught as an instructor for the National Advocacy Center and the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and has been involved with the Kinston Evening Rotary.

Hon. Stephanie Reese is a judge for the Guilford County Superior Court in the 18th Judicial District of the 4th Division in North Carolina. She was appointed to the bench by Governor Roy Cooper on October 20, 2022.

Before her appointment, Reese was an assistant district attorney in the Rockingham County District Attorney’s office, a position to which she was named in 2018. In addition to this role, she also taught adjunct at Elon University School of Law and Wake Forest University School of Law.

Reese earned a bachelor’s degree in History and English from Utah State University in 1993. She then completed a J.D. at Wake Forest University School of Law in 1996. After graduating from law school, she entered private practice as an associate at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton. She work there until 2000, at which time she became an assistant district attorney with the Guilford County District Attorney’s Office.

Moderator Senta Rhodes - Senta Rhodes is an experienced trial attorney currently with Grimes Teich Anderson where she has worked close to five years and her primary focus is personal injury law. Before joining Grimes Teich Anderson, Senta was an Assistant District Attorney in the Major Felony Crimes Division in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There she prosecuted more than 20 jury trials and 50 bench trials. She is experienced in gathering evidence, examining experts and negotiations. She was previously an Assistant State's Attorney in the Domestic Violence Unit for the District Court Division in Prince George's County, Maryland where she prosecuted both bench and jury trials, negotiated plea agreements and examined witnesses before the Grand Jury. She received her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin and J.D. from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in Washington, DC.

All registration fees benefit The Mediation Center.