Tuesday, December 19, 2023
The North Carolina State Bar Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Carmen H. Bannon as the new counsel, effective immediately. Ms. Bannon’s appointment was unanimously supported by the council at a special meeting on Tuesday following a nationwide search and interview process.
Ms. Bannon joined the State Bar in 2006 as a deputy counsel following her graduation from UNC School of Law and a clerkship with the Honorable Mark Martin at the North Carolina Supreme Court. In addition to her role at the State Bar, Carmen is an associate adjunct professor at UNC School of Law, where she teaches professional responsibility. She served as the president of the Wake County Bar Association in 2020.
Ms. Bannon assumed the role of interim counsel in November following the announcement by the State Bar's previous counsel, Katherine Jean, that she would be stepping back from the position. In her role as counsel, Ms. Bannon will lead the State Bar’s Office of Counsel, which is the legal department of the North Carolina State Bar. The primary responsibility of the Office of Counsel is to investigate and, when appropriate, prosecute lawyers for violating the Rules of Professional Conduct.
"We are thrilled to have Carmen Bannon as our new counsel. Carmen’s proven dedication to the legal profession, combined with her diverse leadership experience, makes her the ideal candidate to lead the North Carolina State Bar’s Office of Counsel into the future," said Todd Brown, president of the North Carolina State Bar.
State Bar Executive Director Alice Mine added, “Carmen Bannon brings extensive litigation experience, organizational insight, and management ability to the position of counsel. In addition, she has exceptional people skills, including collaboration, teamwork, and problem-solving. We are grateful to the State Bar Council for appointing Carmen to this critical role for the regulation of the profession.”
Ms. Bannon expressed her enthusiasm for the new role stating, “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the extraordinary staff of the State Bar’s Office of Counsel, serve the public, and ensure the integrity of our system of self-regulation. I have dedicated my career to maintaining the high standards of the legal profession. The practice of law is a noble calling, and I am proud to protect and promote it.”
The North Carolina State Bar looks forward to a seamless transition for the Office of Counsel under Carmen Bannon's leadership and is confident in her ability to uphold the agency’s commitment to the public interest.
Ms. Bannon assumed the role of interim counsel in November following the announcement by the State Bar's previous counsel, Katherine Jean, that she would be stepping back from the position. In her role as counsel, Ms. Bannon will lead the State Bar’s Office of Counsel, which is the legal department of the North Carolina State Bar. The primary responsibility of the Office of Counsel is to investigate and, when appropriate, prosecute lawyers for violating the Rules of Professional Conduct.
"We are thrilled to have Carmen Bannon as our new counsel. Carmen’s proven dedication to the legal profession, combined with her diverse leadership experience, makes her the ideal candidate to lead the North Carolina State Bar’s Office of Counsel into the future," said Todd Brown, president of the North Carolina State Bar.
State Bar Executive Director Alice Mine added, “Carmen Bannon brings extensive litigation experience, organizational insight, and management ability to the position of counsel. In addition, she has exceptional people skills, including collaboration, teamwork, and problem-solving. We are grateful to the State Bar Council for appointing Carmen to this critical role for the regulation of the profession.”
Ms. Bannon expressed her enthusiasm for the new role stating, “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the extraordinary staff of the State Bar’s Office of Counsel, serve the public, and ensure the integrity of our system of self-regulation. I have dedicated my career to maintaining the high standards of the legal profession. The practice of law is a noble calling, and I am proud to protect and promote it.”
The North Carolina State Bar looks forward to a seamless transition for the Office of Counsel under Carmen Bannon's leadership and is confident in her ability to uphold the agency’s commitment to the public interest.
Filed Under: General News
