Senior Lawyers Division

Executive Council

• Hon. Catherine H. Kennedy, President/Section Delegate BOG Rep.

• David D. Cantrell Jr., Immediate Past President/Section Delegate BOG Rep./Membership Committee Chair

• Barbara P. Ohanesian, President Elect

• Hon. Neal W. Dickert, Secretary

Executive Committee

Region I /Boomer Times: H. Mills Gallivan, Sr., expires 2025; Beverly A. Carroll, expires 2025

Region II: Darra W. Cothran, expires 2026; Abigail R. Rogers, expires 2026

Region III: Robert L. Kilgo, Jr., expires 2025; Hon. James E. Lockemy, expires 2025

Region IV: Emily G. Johnston, expires 2026; David L. Tedder, expires 2026

At-Large: Dennis M. Gerald, expires 2026; A. Sandy Cruickshanks, IV, expire 2025

Out-of-State Representative: Kathryn C. DeAngelo, expires 2026

Law School Representative: Gerald M. Finkel, expires 2025; Prof. Robert M. Wilcox, expires 2025

1. Continue to conduct a seminar, reception and Executive Council meeting in conjunction with the SC Bar Convention.

2. Arrange for members to be sworn in to practice before the US Supreme Court and the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces in Washington, DC.

3. Continue to encourage active participation in the Supreme Court of SC Lawyer Mentoring program.

4. Continue to coordinate with local county bar associations on participating and promoting the Law Day Essay Contest. In addition, each statewide essay winner will be recognized and presented with a monetary contribution, medal and certificate, with the overall winner to be acknowledged at the SC Bar Convention.  

5. Continue to coordinate efforts with the USC School of Law Pro Bono program by promoting and participating in the S.C. Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts project, E-Help at Your Desk, My Wills and a variety of other potential programs.  

6. Continue to promote participation in the Center for International Legal Studies program in cooperation with law faculties in Eastern Europe and the former republics of the Soviet Union.

7. Continue to explore travel destinations for members of the Division.

8. Continue to support and recognize the Nifty Fifty Honorees.

9. Continue to host a Fall Symposium to include networking opportunities and an educational seminar.

10. Identify and pursue methods to successfully market and enhance the benefits of being a member of the Division.

11. Provide regional networking opportunities for members of the Division.

12. Conduct statewide programs on topics to include but not limited to, competency issues, succession plans, health and retirement, technology, etc.

13. Pursuant to Rule 428, SCACR, in coordination with the SC Bar Executive Director, the Division created a SLD Lawyers Assistance Program, which assists legal professionals in a confidential manner who are exhibiting cognitive decline and impairment. The Division will continue to host statewide training sessions and solicit volunteers to serve as attorney intervenors. Goals include the following:

• Provide education and resources to assist legal professionals with the transition to retirement;
• Maintain the integrity of the legal professional in question and avoid disciplinary action to those who agree to the Bar’s recommendation(s) to address concerns;
• Provide assistance to individuals, law firms, and organizations in handling cases of cognitive decline or impairment in a manner that protects the public;
• Raise awareness of cognitive decline and impairment affecting legal professionals; and
• Reduce negative stigma and promote the benefits of retirement.

14. Provide input regarding senior attorney issues and support the SC Bar Wellness Committee. In addition, actively promote and assist with projects of interest to the Division.

15. Create a pro bono award that will acknowledge a senior Bar member who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to volunteer legal services and who has made a positive impact in the community.

16. Address issues and explore options to properly accommodate the hearing impaired within the court system.  

Article I 

Name and Purposes 

Section 1. Name. The Division shall be known as the Senior Lawyers Division of the South Carolina Bar. 

Section 2. Purposes. The purposes of this Division shall be the purposes of the South Carolina Bar as stated in its Constitution, namely to uphold the honor of the profession of law, to apply the knowledge and experience of the profession to the promotion of the public good, to encourage collegiality among the members of the South Carolina Bar, to correlate and promote the activities of local senior lawyer organizations in the state, and to maintain relationships with the American Bar Association and such other national groups as are approved by the Executive Council. 

To pursue those purposes, the programs and activities of the Division shall serve the particular interests of senior lawyers and promote the welfare of seniors generally. In serving the interests of senior lawyers the Division will plan and present programs and activities, produce publications of interest to senior lawyers, and coordinate activities for senior lawyers by, for, and with state and national bar associations. To promote the welfare of seniors generally, the Division will study issues of concern to seniors, prepare and present programs and publications designed to explore and develop such issues, advocate appropriately on behalf of such issues, and coordinate and cooperate with other entities interested in such matters. 

Article II 

Membership 

Section 1. Membership. Membership within the Division shall consist of all members of the Bar who are at least sixty (60) years of age. Membership in the Division shall terminate automatically upon such person ceasing to be a member in good standing of the South Carolina Bar. 

Article III 

Officers 

Section 1. The officers of the Division shall be a President, a President-Elect, and a Secretary. The officers shall be nominated and elected, in manner hereinafter provided to hold office for one year beginning July 1st and ending June 30th and until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. 

Section 2. At the end of his or her term the President-Elect shall automatically assume the office of President, and thereupon the immediately retiring President shall become and remain a member of the Executive Council for the ensuing year. 

Article IV 

Duties of Officers 

Section 1. President. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Division during his or her term of office and, in carrying out of his or her administrative duties, shall make all such appointments for the general committees and be possessed of such authority as is customarily associated with such office. 

Section 2. President-Elect. Upon the death, resignation, or during the disability of the President, or upon his or her refusal to act, the President-Elect shall perform the duties of the President for the remainder of the President’s term, except in case of the President’s disability and only during so much of the term as the disability continues. 

Section 3. Secretary. The Secretary shall consult with and assist all the officers of the Division in the work of the Division in the manner and to the extent requested. The Secretary shall keep a true record of the proceedings of all meetings of the Division and the Executive Council. The Secretary, in conjunction with the President, as authorized by the Executive Council, shall attend generally to the business of the Division, and he or she shall review the record of all monies appropriated to and expended for the use of the Division. If the Secretary is absent from a meeting, the President shall appoint a member of the Executive Council to perform the duties of the Secretary at that meeting. 

Section 4. Administrative Committee. The President, President-Elect, and Secretary constitute the Administrative Committee. If any matter arises which needs to be decided between the next regularly-scheduled meeting of the Executive Council of the Senior Lawyers Division, the Administrative Committee may meet by conference call or in person and take the necessary actions. 

Any actions taken by the Administrative Committee must be on the Agenda at the next regularly-scheduled meeting of the Executive Council and ratified by the Executive Council. 

Article V 

Executive Council 

Section 1. Functions. The Executive Council shall have the general supervision and control of the affairs of the, subject to provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws of the South Carolina Bar and of the Division. 

Section 2. Composition. The Executive Council shall be composed of the President, President-Elect, Secretary, Immediate Past President, two representatives from each of the four judicial regions in the state, two at large representatives, an out-of-state representative, a representative from the University of South Carolina School of Law and a representative from the Charleston School of Law, and the American Bar Association Senior Lawyers Division Representative when he or she is a member of the South Carolina Bar. The Division’s representatives who serve on the Board of Governors shall also serve on the Executive Council if they are not otherwise members. 

Section 3. Regional Representative; Residence. There shall be two representatives to the Division Executive Council from each of the four judicial regions, each of whom is hereby designated as a Regional Representative. Each Regional Representative shall be a member in good standing of the Division and shall maintain his or her principal office within the judicial region from which he or she is elected. In each 

odd-numbered year, two Regional Representative shall be elected from each of the odd-numbered regions; in each even-numbered year, two Regional Representative shall be elected from each of the even-numbered regions. 

Section 4. At Large Representative. There shall be two at large representatives to the Division Executive Council who shall be members in good standing of the Division and shall maintain his or her principal office and/or residency within South Carolina. Before assuming the office of President, each President-Elect shall appoint an At Large Representative. 

Section 5. Out-of-State Representative. There shall be an out-of-state representative to the Division Executive Council who shall be a member in good standing of the Division and who maintains his or her principal office and/or residency outside of South Carolina. The Out-of-State Representative shall be elected in even-numbered years. 

Section 6. Law School Representatives. There shall be a representative to the Division Executive Council from the University of South Carolina School of Law and a representative from the Charleston School of Law, who shall be members in good standing of the Division and who shall maintain his or her principal office at the law school that he or she represents. The Law School Representatives shall be elected in odd-numbered year. 

Section 7. Duties of Representatives. In addition to those duties assigned to them by the President, Representatives shall participate at all regularly scheduled meetings/conference calls of the Executive Council, unless excused by the President. 

Section 8. Term and Removal of Representatives. All Representatives shall serve a two-year term beginning the first of July in the year in which he or she is elected or appointed and ending June 30th two years thereafter. Each Representative shall be limited to two full consecutive terms. All Representatives must maintain their principal offices in the region they represent for their entire terms. Any Representative who fails to attend two scheduled Executive Council meetings during any one term of office without obtaining approval of the President shall be replaced on the Executive Council as provided in Article VII, Section 6. Any Representative who fails to maintain the required qualifications shall be replaced on the Executive Council as provided in Article VII, Section 6. 

Article VI 

Representation on the Board of Governors and the House of Delegates 

Section 1. Representation on the Board of Governors. The Division is entitled to two representatives to serve on the Board of Governors as authorized by the Constitution of the Bar. The President shall serve a two-year term as the Division’s representative, beginning the year of assuming the office of President and continuing during his term as Immediate Past President. If there is a vacancy, a replacement shall be elected to serve the remainder of the representative’s term by a vote of two-thirds or more of the Division’s Executive Council. The representatives shall make reports to the Executive Council as requested by the President. 

Section 2. Representation on the House of Delegates. The President and Immediate Past President of the Division shall serve on the House of Delegates of the Bar as authorized by the Constitution of the Bar. 

Article VII 

Election of Officers, Regional Representatives, Out-of-State Representative, 

and Law School Representatives 

Section 1. Notice of Election. ,By September 15, the Secretary shall cause a notice to be published in the publication of the Division or in a general publication of the Bar, or otherwise mailed or communicated to the membership through U.S. mail, email, posting to the Bar Website generally accessible to the membership, or any other method permissible under the South Carolina Bar rules and policies stating that the positions of President-Elect, Secretary, appropriate Regional Representatives, the Out-of-State Representative (If applicable), and the Law School Representatives (if applicable), shall become vacant on June 30th of the following year. This notice shall state that any nominations shall be presented by November 15 to the Chair of the Nominating Committee or to the Division’s liaison with the South Carolina Bar. 

Section 2. Eligibility. A nominee for any position on the Executive Council must be a member of the Division beginning July 1st next following his or her election. A nominee for Regional Representative must maintain his or her principal office in the judicial region to be represented. A nominee for the Out-of-State Representative must maintain his or her principal office and/or residency outside of South Carolina for his or her entire term. The Law School Representatives must maintain their principal office at the law school that he or she represents for their entire term. 

Section 3. Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall be comprised of the President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, who shall be the Chair, and those Regional Representatives whose Executive Council terms expire on June 30th of the following year and who are not eligible for another term or who have advised the President that they will not seek another term. On or before November 15th of each year, but in any event subsequent to the publication of the notices required by these Bylaws, the Nominating Committee shall meet at a time and place designated by the Chair and shall promptly make nominations by a majority vote for the offices of President-Elect, Secretary, and the appropriate Regional Representatives, and appropriate Out-of-State Representative, and Law School Representatives. 

Section 4. Nominating Election Procedure. By December 15, , the Executive Council shall cause the name of each nominee selected by the Nominating Committee to be published in the publication of the Division or a general publication of the Bar, or otherwise mailed or communicated to the membership through U.S. mail, email, posting to the Bar Website generally accessible to the membership, or any other method permissible under the South Carolina Bar rules and policies. On or before the following January 15, any ten or more members of the Division in good standing may file with the Executive Council a signed petition nominating a candidate or candidates for any or all offices to be filled. On January 15, the nominations shall be closed. 

Section 5. Elections. 

A. If there is only one nominee for Officers, Regional Representatives, Out-of-State Representative or Law School Representatives, such nominee shall be considered elected automatically at the time the nominations are closed. 

B. If more than one person is nominated for any such office or position, by February 1, ballots containing the names of all nominees for each contested position shall be distributed either by mail or electronically to all members who are eligible to vote. All members of the Division are eligible to vote for the offices of President-Elect and Secretary and for the Law School Representatives. Only those members of the Division residing in each Judicial Region are eligible to vote for the persons nominated for the position of Regional Representative from that region. Only those members residing outside of South Carolina are eligible to vote for the Out-of-State Representative. Ballots shall be returned by February 28 to be included in the tally. The nominees who receive the greatest number of votes for each office or position shall be declared elected. 

C. The Executive Council shall supervise all such elections and shall determine, announce and publish the results of each election. 

Section 6. Vacancies. If any office or position other than that of the President shall become vacant, the office or position shall be filled by the Executive Council for the portion of the term remaining. If the office of President shall become vacant, the President-Elect shall thereupon become President and shall continue to hold the office of President for a term ending at the same time his or her term as President would have ended had he or she succeeded automatically upon the normal expiration of the preceding President's term. 

Article VIII 

Committees 

Section 1. Committees. The President shall designate the committees, including their duties and their size, deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of the Division. The Executive Council may designate additional committees to carry out specified duties. The committee chairs shall report to the Executive Council at such times as requested by the President. 

Section 2. Appointments; Terms. All committee chairs and committee members shall be appointed by the President for term coincident with the term of the President. 

Article IX 

Meetings 

Section 1. Meetings of the Executive Council. The Executive Council shall meet quarterly or as called by the President with at least fourteen days’ notice, unless notice is waived by all members of the Executive Council. In addition to its regular meetings, the Executive Council may also transact business and vote by telephone, email, etc. 

Section 2. Quorum. Ten members of the Executive Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business at any meeting of the Executive Council. Any action may be taken by the Executive Council by majority vote of those present and voting after a quorum has been determined. 

Section 3. Rules of Proceeding. The latest edition of Roberts Rules of Order shall govern all meetings of the Assembly and Executive Council. 

Article X 

Financial Matters 

Expenditures shall be in conformity with the budget approved by the Bar and shall be approved by the Executive Council. No individual officer, Regional Representative or member of the Division shall have authority to incur any liability in the name of the Bar or the Division. 

Article XI 

Reports to the Bar 

Any resolutions adopted or action taken by the Executive Council may be reported by the President to the Bar for action thereon according to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Bar. Any action of the Division shall be approved according to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Bar before it becomes effective as the action of the Bar. 

Article XII 

Amendments 

The Division Bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Executive Council by a vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting, provided any amendments so adopted shall become effective only as provided in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Bar. 

Article XIII 

Gender 

Section 1. President, President-Elect and Others. Except where clearly inappropriate, the word "President" as used in the Division Bylaws shall be deemed to include the masculine and feminine genders, and compatible reading shall be given to the words "President-Elect," "Secretary," and "Regional Representative" and all similar terms. 

Amended 5/2019 

Amended 7/2021 – (1) Additional representative on the BOG 

Amended 1/2023

This committee conducts lunch and learn programs throughout the state on competency issues, career transitioning, health and retirement, limited practice issues, closing/selling a practice and technology.

To recommend potential speakers or other topics or to join the Membership Committee, contact the SLD Membership Committee Chair David Cantrell at dcantrellatty@aol.com.

The Pro Bono Committee will manage the annual SLD Pro Bono Award by promoting, recruiting applicants, assisting with selection and presentation of award; and bring pro bono projects to the attention of the Ex. Council. Notify the Ex. Council of involvement of senior lawyers in pro bono activities by providing information, encouraging participation, and responding to requests for information.

For additional information or to join the committee, please contact Malissa Burnette at mburnette@BurnetteShutt.Law or by calling (803) 850-0912.

Carolina Clerks
Need a bit of help with research? The USC Joseph F. Rice School of Law Pro Bono Program has the Carolina Clerks: Pro Bono Clerks for Pro Bono Lawyers ready and willing to assist you.  

The Publications Committee will obtain articles/content for the Division’s quarterly newsletter,The Boomer Times. In addition, the Committee will focus on producing a publication and/or resource materials on succession planning.

For additional information or to join the committee, please contact Don Wildman at dwildman@jshwlaw.com or by calling (864) 582-8121 or the Editor for The Boomer Times, Mills Gallivan, Sr. at mgallivan@gwblawfirm.com or by calling (864) 271-9580.

The Committee will identify and promote health and wellness programs to senior lawyers. For additional information or to join the committee, please contact Jack Muench at jhm6952@gmail.com or by calling (843) 610-0500.

Travel with the Senior Lawyers to the Cradle of Civilization and birthplace of Democracy—Athens, Greece.  

From there we’ll explore other cities: Mycenae, Olympia, Nafpaktos, Delphi, Kalambaka and Meteora. Then we’ll board the Celestyal Discovery, a small cruise ship (1,600 passengers) that will take us to the islands of Mykonos, Ephesus, Patmos, Heraklion, and Santorini for a three-day tour.  Disembarking in Athens, our full-day tour there will include the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Temple of Zeus. We’ll view government buildings, the courts of law and ancient elegant buildings, the Academy, the University and the National Library.

Who can attend?

The trip is open to each Senior Lawyer (60+ years) and a companion.  It’s moderately paced with a reasonable amount of walking and requiring an average level of physical fitness.  It includes round-trip airfare from Charlotte to Athens, all ground transportation and transfers, accommodations in Deluxe and first-class hotels with porterage, three nights standard inside cabins aboard Celestyal Discovery, two shore excursions at Ephesus and Knossos (Crete) and 21 meals.  An English-speaking guide accompanies us on the tour—including the cruise ship.

Costs & Reservations

The cost is $4,969.00 per person, double occupancy for 25 paying passengers. A single supplement is $935.00.  All on-line reservations and a non-refundable deposit of $350.00 per person must be completed by January 10, 2025. Final payments are due March 3, 2025.

For more information and to make your reservations, please visit the Friendly Planet website.

To speak with a Travel Specialist at Friendly Planet, please dial 1-800-555-5765 or send an email to group@friendlyplanet.com. Your contact Senior Lawyer Division contact is Nancy Layman, who can be reached at nancy.layman@att.net or by calling (803) 917-0754.

If you missed the earlier SC Bar Senior Lawyers travel to Greece and the Greek Isles, this is your second chance! Another trip has been scheduled, identical to the first, with an additional night’s stay in Athens. Travel with us to the Cradle of Civilization and birthplace of Democracy—Athens, Greece. From there we’ll explore other cities: Mycenae, Olympia, Nafpaktos, Delphi, Kalambaka and Meteora. Then we’ll board the Celestyal Discovery, a small cruise ship (1,600 passengers) that will take us to the islands of Mykonos, Ephesus, Patmos, Heraklion, and Santorini for a three-day tour. Disembarking in Athens, our full-day tour there will include the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Temple of Zeus. We’ll view government buildings, the courts of law and ancient elegant buildings, the Academy, the University and the National Library. 

The trip is open to each Senior Lawyer (60+ years) and a companion. It’s moderately paced with a reasonable amount of walking and requires an average level of physical fitness. It includes round-trip airfare from Charlotte to Athens, all ground transportation and transfers, accommodations in Deluxe and first-class hotels with porterage, three nights standard inside cabins aboard Celestyal Discovery, two shore excursions at Ephesus and Knossos (Crete) and 21 meals. An English-speaking guide accompanies us on the tour, including the cruise ship. 

The cost is $4,475.00 per person, double occupancy for 25 paying passengers. Single supplement is $1,025.00. All on-line reservations and a non-refundable deposit of $350.00 per person must be completed by July 3, 2025. Final payments are due August 17, 2025. 

For more information and to make your reservations, please visit the Friendly Planet website at: https://www.friendlyplanet.com/vacation-packages/south-carolina-senior-lawyers-greece-fall-2025.html Should you need to speak with a travel specialist at Friendly Planet, please call 1-800-555-5765 or email group@friendlyplanet.com. To contact Nancy Layman, the travel coordinator 

Active members of the Bar who are at least 60 years of age and who have been admitted to practice law for 30 years or more may submit an affidavit to include year of birth, year of admission (this does not have to be with the S.C. Bar) and the desire to be exempt (exempt status pursuant to Section III. A of the Commission’s regulations shall apply to both the CLE and LEPR requirements).

Requests should be submitted to the S.C. Supreme Court Commission on CLE & Specialization, P.O. Box 2138, Columbia, SC 29202. For more information, visit www.commcle.org or contact the Commission at (803) 799-5578 or commcle@bellsouth.net.

The following is a guide for authors submitting articles for publication in the newsletter of the South Carolina Bar Senior Lawyers Division.

Article Preparation: Articles should be emailed in Word format, and pictures as a jpeg file or a png file to Mills Gallivan at mgallivan@gwblawfirm.com or Bar staff liaison Tara G. Caine at tcaine@scbar.org. Word count should be under 1,000 words for practice-area-specific articles (case notes, law updates, etc.) and 500 words or less for opinion pieces, subcommittee updates, event recaps, and additional content. Longer format, journal-style articles are typically reserved for the Bar’s “SC Lawyer” magazine. Submissions outside these parameters will be considered by the division’s newsletter coordinator with the guidance of the Bar’s communications staff.

Style: All content should be relevant and germane to the legal profession. Articles should be written for the average lawyer who is looking for usable information that is not difficult or time-consuming to read, presenting practical information in a clear and readable manner. Humor and anecdotes used to illustrate a topic are welcome additions when appropriate.

Except when referring to a specific individual, articles should be gender-neutral whenever possible. Articles should also be written in the third person, except when the author is relating a personal experience relevant to the subject of an article.

Author Credits: Authors will receive bylines at the beginning of articles and credit lines at the end. The credit line will include the author's name; title; firm, company or school; city; and state if outside South Carolina. No biographical sketches will be included.

Warranty and Representation: By submission of an article, the author warrants and represents that he or she has included no material in the article in violation of any rights of any other person or entity and that he or she has disclosed all relationships with any person or entity producing any product or providing any service referred to in the article.

Editing of Title and Text: All articles are edited by the South Carolina Bar's Communications Division according to the AP Stylebook, as well as for clarity and readability.

Each grade Best Essay Writer will receive a check for $500, a certificate and a medal from the American Bar Association.  Each Essay Writer of Distinction will receive a certificate and a medal from the ABA.  The checks, the certificates and medals will be distributed through Judge Hayes’ office.  Please contact Sharyn Walker in Judge Hayes’ office to arrange for the distribution at mhayessc@sccourts.org.  

In the past, some school officials and/or parents request photographs when the presentation of the awards are accomplished. Ms. Walker can help with any such arrangements. 

The overall winner will be contacted by Tara Caine from the SC Bar to arrange for the presentation of her awards, which will include a check for $1,000, a certificate and a medal from the American Bar Association.

The annual Honorable J. Mark Hayes, II Law Day Essay Contest is sponsored by the Senior Division of the South Carolina Bar.  The 2023 essay contest was the thirteenth year that the Senior Division has sponsored the contest. The purpose of the contest is to promote a better understanding of the Rule of Law and civic responsibility in the South Carolina’s youth. The contest is opened to all 9^th, 10^th, 11^th and 12^th grade students in South Carolina.  In 2021, the contest was named in honor of Circuit Judge J. Mark Hayes, II, in recognition of his work with the contest since its inception.  

The 2023 American Bar Association Law Day Theme was “Cornerstones of Democracy:  Civics, Civility, and Collaboration.”   As part of the Law Day essay contest, each student was asked to write a 1,000 word or less essay on the topic and to explain civics (the study of the rights and duties of citizenship) and why the founding fathers believed them to be important to the success of the American democratic experiment in self-governance. 

The essays were scored by volunteer graders from the South Carolina Circuit Court Judiciary. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Sharyn Walker at mhayessc@sccourts.org or 864-562-4144.

SLD 2024 THE HONORABLE J. MARK HAYES, II, LAW DAY ESSAY CONTEST

The 2024 Law Day Essay theme was “VOICES OF DEMOCRACY.”  The theme encouraged Americans to participate in the 2024 election by deepening their understanding of the electoral process; discussing issues in honest and civil ways, turning out to vote; and finally, helping to move the country forward after free and fair elections.  ABA President Mary Smith, when the 2024 theme was announced, stated that the theme encourages Americans to lift our voices to maintain our system of laws and to ensure that our democracy endures.

The 2024 Law Day Essay topic asked each participating student to write a 1000 word, or less, essay on the following topic: “Considering the Constitution, explain how the adherence to the Rule of Law is related to the success of our democracy”. 

OVERALL WINNER: 
Yohnah Ray
Landrum High School – 10th Grade, Teacher:  Beth Henson
Essay Title:  The Vital Role of the Rule of Law

12TH GRADE WINNER:
Veera Patel
Dorman High School, Teacher: Chris Smutzer
Essay Title:  Navigating Democracy

11th GRADE WINNER:
Elizabeth Heckman
Greenville Senior High Academy of Law, Business, and Finance, Teacher: Dr. Ted Mauro
Essay Title:  Expanding the “We”:  The Evolving American Rule of Law

10th GRADE WINNER:
Payton Burke
Dorman High School, Teacher: Chris Smutzer
Essay Title:  In Appreciation of Our Freedoms

9TH GRADE WINNER:
William Silas West
Spartanburg Day School, Teacher: Amanda McGrath
Essay Title:  The Foundation of the Rule of Law

ESSAYS OF DISTINCTION:
Wendy Perez Bravo
Spartanburg County Early College High School, Teacher: Lyndsey Williams
Essay Title:  America’s Symphony:  The Rule of Law

Zane Brooks
Landrum High School, Teacher: Laurin Baker
Essay Title:  The Pillars of Democracy

Bella Cannon
High Point Academy, Teacher: Kim Wells
Essay Title:  Cannon Voices of Democracy Essay

Kaylee Renee Ellison
South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind, Teacher: Heather Moffett
Essay Title:  Roe v. Wade

Tyne Knopp
Spartanburg County Early College High School, Teacher: Dr. Claretta Kerns
Essay Title:  The Foundations of Democracy:  Examining the Importance of the Rule of Law

Victory Massai
Spartanburg County Early College High School, Teacher: James Newell
Essay Title:  Architects of Justice:  The Role of the Judiciary in Maintaining Democracy

Q’uiniah Nash
Spartanburg High School, Teacher: Natasha Mullins
Essay Title:  The Rule of Law’s Correlation with America’s Democratic Success

Andrew Rogers
James F. Byrnes High School, Teacher: Susanne Cash
Essay Title:  Cardboard Signs to Ballot Lines