Law Students from England visit Western North Carolina

On April 9-13th, a group of 24 law students and professors from Northumbria Law School in Newcastle, United Kingdom, visited Asheville and Cherokee as part of a Study Visit. The group lead by Professor William Walton, Professor James Grey, and Victoria Gleason, a commercial solicitor, arrived from Virginia on Saturday and enjoyed a weekend in Asheville’s restaurant and pubs. Over the weekend, members of the group also visited an American political rally to gain greater understanding of the American political system.

On Monday, James W. Kilbourne, Jr. of Dungan, Kilbourne & Stahl, P.A., a member of the Buncombe County Bar, led a discussion on the American legal system and the role of the Cherokees. The discussion was graciously hosted by the Van Winkle Law Firm. The students visited the Buncombe County Courthouse and attended a session of Criminal Superior Court led by Judge Gary Gavenus; it was the first time most had visited an American court and they were drawing comparisons to their own experience in English courts.

The group travelled to Cherokee on Monday Afternoon to visit with Chief Justice Boyum, Judge Kirk Saunooke and the Cherokee court system before hosting a BBQ on Roan Mountain on Tuesday to discuss environmental law issues with local activist, attorney and author Jay Leutze.