Local Bankruptcy Judge Named Dean of Campbell Law School
Effective July 15, 2013 Bankruptcy Judge J. Rich Leonard of the Eastern District of North Carolina will be the Dean of Campbell University’s Normal Adrian Wiggins School of Law. “Judge Leonard’s wealth of experience in judicial leadership will prove tremendously beneficial to our students and faculty,” said Campbell President Jerry Wallace. “His commitment to academic excellence and the highest standards of legal education will help shape the future of Campbell Law School for years to come and we are excited to welcome him to this new role.”
A native North Carolinian, Judge Leonard earned his law degree from Yale Law School in 1976 and has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina since 1992. During his time as bankruptcy judge, Judge Leonard earned many honors including the 2011 American Bar Association Robert B. Yegge Award for Outstanding Contribution to Judicial Administration, the 1992 Director’s Award for Outstanding Leadership in the Federal Judiciary, and he was the Editor in Chief of the American Bankruptcy Law Journal in 2011. He also served as Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge from 1999 to 2005 for the Eastern District of North Carolina. In addition to these awards and professional achievements, Judge Leonard oversaw the renovation of the historic courtrooms and meeting rooms located on the third floor of the Federal Building on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh.
“Although I take enormous pride in my tenure with the federal courts, I am both humbled and elated to be offered this unique opportunity,” said Leonard of the appointment. “I believe in this law school. I appreciate the focus on rigor and discipline, and the emphasis on the practical aspects of law practice.” The Sasser Law Firm wishes Judge Leonard all the best in his role as Dean of Campbell Law School!
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
For more than 20 years, the Sasser Law Firm has been helping individuals and business owners sort through financial hardships to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Our North Carolina bankruptcy attorneys are all board-certified specialists, which means we have passed a complex exam, undergone a thorough peer review, and continue to earn legal education credits in this ever-evolving area of law.