CHARLOTTE, NC -- On November 14, 2008 Chief Justice Sarah Parker awarded the Chief Justice's Professionalism Award to E. Fitzgerald (Jerry) Parnell, III of Poyner Spruill's Charlotte office for his "dedication and commitment to the principles of professionalism in the legal community in North Carolina and the United States and for [his] efforts in the founding of the Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism." William O. (Bill) King of Durham was also recognized for his similar contributions in the field of lawyer professionalism. Parnell, King and former Chief Justices Burley Mitchell and Henry Frye created and served on the Commission during its early years. The awards were presented at the tenth anniversary celebration of the Commission held at the North Carolina Museum of Art.

In addition to serving as a founding member of the Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism, Parnell was a founding member of the North Carolina Federal Bar Advisory Commission, and serves as a founding member of the North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Commission and the board of Federal Defenders of Western North Carolina, Inc. He serves as a board member of Legal Services of Southern Piedmont and the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys. He served as president of the North Carolina State Bar and chaired its Professionalism and Ethics committees. As State Delegate for North Carolina he represents North Carolina lawyers in the ABA House of Delegates where he also serves on the Nominating Committee and the Steering Committee of the Nominating Committee.  Jerry is a Fellow of The American Bar Foundation.

Jerry is a Partner in Poyner Spruill’s Litigation practice area. He can be reached at 704.342.5252 or jparnell@poynerspruill.com.