Judges, lawyers, and legal history enthusiasts from around the country—over 200 in number—gathered at NC State’s Tally Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, on October 31, 2023, to attend the NC Supreme Court Historical Society (NCSCHS) annual dinner, where the honored guest of the evening was HPU Law’s Founding Dean and Professor of Law, former NC Chief Justice Mark Martin.
The evening featured an all-encapsulating commemoration of his tenure on the North Carolina Supreme Court, with tributes from six speakers and a heartfelt response from Dean Martin. Some of the remarks given were the following:
“Dean Martin worked tirelessly throughout his tenure as Chief Justice to improve the North Carolina judicial system. From advancing the Judicial Branch’s eCourt’s initiative to promoting professionalism and civility throughout our profession, his positive impact on our state has been deep and enduring.” – Paul Newby, current Chief Justice of the NC Supreme Court.
“Dean Martin’s ‘Raise the Age’ campaign, in which 16 and 17 year-olds who commit crimes in North Carolina are no longer automatically charged in the adult criminal justice system, has helped countless young people in this state have a second chance.”—Barbara Jackson, former Associate Justice of the NC Supreme Court.
“Theodore Roosevelt has a famous quote titled the ‘Man in The Arena,’ in which he says ‘It is not the critic who counts . . . . The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.’ Chief Justice Martin, you are that man in the arena.”—Mike Grace Jr., attorney at Kilpatrick Townsend and former judicial clerk to Dean Martin.
The night was a wonderful event–full of encouraging words and stories—and was well-organized by the NCSCHS and its president Gregg F. Schwitzgebel III. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Dean Martin responded at the end of the evening by offering closing remarks: “As I look back on a memorable career, brimming with purpose, inspiration, and incredible relationships, I feel great peace and tremendous joy. I hope I can pass down this same gift of professional purpose and meaning to our students at HPU Law.”