Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008

Local legal minds earn favorable verdict

All rise, ladies and gentlemen, for some outstanding verdicts on the state’s chief judge and two others in the Midlands’ legal community.

S.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal and Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough partner Ed Mullins have been elected to serve on the board of trustees of The American Inns of Court Foundation.

The foundation, one of the country’s oldest mentoring organizations, fosters excellence in professionalism, ethics, civility and legal skills. It includes more than 25,000 federal, state and local judges, lawyers, law professors and law students in 350 chapters across the United States.

Toal serves on the board in her capacity as immediate past chairwoman of the National Center for State Courts and as immediate past president of the Conference of Chief Justices. Mullins was elected to represent the 4th Judicial Circuit.

Toal began her service as an associate justice on the Supreme Court of South Carolina in March 1988. She was re-elected in February 1996 and was installed as chief justice in March 2000 for the balance of the term of her predecessor.

An active trial lawyer of 50 years, Mullins is chairman emeritus of Nelson Mullins and its litigation department and was instrumental in the growth of the law firm from five attorneys to more than 400. The firm has offices in South Carolina; North Carolina; Georgia; Washington, D.C.; and Boston.

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F. Earl Ellis Jr., of Ellis Lawhorne & Sims, has been presented the Worthy Adversary Award by the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association.

The award honors an attorney who is honest, well respected among his or her peers, loyal and dependable to clients, and ethical.

Ellis was noted specifically for his cordiality toward opponents and his ability to engage juries. He was formally recognized during the Trial Lawyers Association’s annual convention on Hilton Head Island earlier this month.

“Earl embodies all that is good in this profession,” said one of his frequent opponents, SCTLA president John Nichols of Bluestein, Nichols, Thompson and Delgado law firm in Columbia. “He has an amazing way with lawyers, judges and clients and is always respectful of opposing attorneys.”

Nichols added Ellis always comes to his cases prepared.

“He keeps his eye on the ethical ball. He wins the case by looking closely at the details, analyzing the data and knowing the facts,” he said. “Honestly, when I’m meeting Earl in the courtroom, I know I better have done my homework!”

Ellis earned his juris doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1975. His first job as an attorney was with the Columbia firm of McKay, Sherrill, Walker & Townsend. While there, he was mentored by attorneys Julius McKay and Doug McKay Jr.

“They taught me that thoughtful wins over adversarial any day of the week and that good lawyers are respectful of other lawyers,” Ellis said. “Butting heads is not necessary; getting good results for your clients is.“