Speaking Sept. 1 with first-year law students, three former Chief Justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court, all founding Elon Law advisory board members, shared insights on judicial process, professionalism and leadership.
When asked what would be good advice for someone who struggled to be a leader, Chief Justice Exum responded, “We all have some ability to be a leader. Look for it. Find it.” He explained that the difference between good lawyers and excellent lawyers is hard work and preparation.
Chief Justice Billings explained to the students that “leadership comes from confidence.” She reminded students that friendships and other influences outside the law must not influence judicial decisions. She also stressed the importance of consistent professional relationships and following through on one’s commitments.
Chief Justice Frye, recently featured prominently in a New York Times magazine cover story, encouraged students to focus on professionalism.
“In order to be a leader, people have to trust you,” Frye said. “You don’t brag about something that’s bad, you try to correct it.” He gave insight on how to be able to disagree with people you worked with and share your opinion, but discouraged being a “disagreeable person.”
Elon Law’s Billings, Exum & Frye National Moot Court Competition, with a sixth annual competition scheduled for March 31 through April 2, 2016, is named in honor of the Chief Justices. Their Sept. 1 presentation before first-year law students was part of the law school’s Lawyering, Leadership and Professionalism course and the school’s wider Leadership Program and experiential learning curriculum. The course is led by Faith Rivers James, associate dean for experiential learning and leadership, and professor of law.
Rhoda Bryan Billings served for four years as a state District Court judge, from 1968 to 1972, before beginning service on the North Carolina Supreme Court in 1985. She was appointed Chief Justice in 1986, the second woman to head the Court. Justice Billings has served as a law professor at Wake Forest University since 1977, and today is titled Professor Emeritus. She served as President of the North Carolina Bar Association from 1991 to 1992. Justice Billings earned her law degree from Wake Forest University.
James G. Exum, Jr. is Distinguished Professor of the Judicial Process at Elon Law, teaching courses, counseling students and coaching moot court teams. He served on the North Carolin Supreme Court from 1974 to 1994, and was Chief Justice from 1986 to 1994. Justice Exum was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1967. He also served as Resident Superior Court Judge for Guilford County. He earned his law degree from New York University.
Henry E. Frye served over 24 years in private law practice, fourteen years in the North Carolina General Assembly, ten years as president of a bank, two years as an assistant U.S. attorney, two years as a law professor, and over 17 years on the North Carolina Supreme Court. Justice Frye earned his law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is currently an attorney with Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey, & Leonard, LLP. In 1983, Justice Frye become the first African-American to serve on the North Carolina Supreme Court. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Court in 1999.
Leah Britt, Elon Law Class of 2017, contributed reporting for this article.