Celebrating Women's History Month: Debra J. Gammons

Debra J. Gammons is a professor at the Charleston School of Law and an attorney.  She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the College of Charleston.  She received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.  Gammons was President of Student Government and President of the Peer Mentor Association at the College of Charleston.  Upon graduation, Professor Gammons won the highest award given by The College (Bishop Robert Smith Award), the Lucille S. Whipper Award, and several additional awards.  She was President of the Student Bar in Law School and won awards there.  In Law School, she also served as Associate Justice of the Moot Court Bar and President of the Public Interest Law Society; along with her membership in other organizations.
 
Gammons began practicing law in the Solicitor’s Office in Charleston.  Before joining the Charleston School of Law, she served as Assistant City Attorney for Greenville, South Carolina for eleven years, where she prosecuted criminal cases and represented the City of Greenville in civil actions.  In addition to serving as Assistant Solicitor and Assistant City Attorney, Gammons has practiced and still practices in the private arena, litigating cases of medical malpractice, personal injury, child custody, divorces, and criminal defense; she has represented Plaintiffs and Defendants in civil cases.    
 
At Charleston School of Law, Gammons has taught Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Freedom of Speech, Sex and Gender Issues and the Law, Trial Advocacy, and Street Law.  She also serves as the Director of the Office of Diversity Initiatives.  She is a Certified Circuit Court Mediator.She is a Delegate in the South Carolina Bar House of Delegates.  Gammons is past President of the Charleston County Bar Association; she was the first Brown or Black person to serve as President.  She has also served as President of the Greenville County Bar Association.  She has served as Trustee on the College of Charleston Board of Trustees, as Commissioner of the South Carolina Supreme Court Commission on Lawyer Conduct, and as Chairperson of the College of Charleston Friends of the Library Board.  She currently serves as Chairperson of Trinity Montessori School Board of Directors, a member of The Charleston Forum Board, a member of the College of Charleston Graduate School Advisory Board, and a member of the College of Charleston African American Studies Board.