Nelson Mullins partner Dick Riley, former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Secretary of Education, will be the focal point of a special symposium held on March 1 at The University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law. The event, “Fifty Years Later: Dick Riley's Standing Impact on the S.C. Constitution,” will highlight the impact of Riley’s contributions to South Carolina law and feature several notable panelists and speakers.

The three-hour presentation is available for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit. It will be held in the Karen Williams Courtroom, followed by a cocktail reception in the adjacent Perrin Family Events Space. All members of the legal community and those interested in Riley's legacy are invited to attend. Registration is required.

Participants will learn more about Riley's significant impact on nearly all provisions of the South Carolina Constitution throughout his tenure serving on the West Committee, of which he is the last living member.

 Dean William Hubbard and Dwight Drake, the latter having served as the executive assistant of legislative and political affairs for former Gov. Riley in 1983, played a key role in organizing the event. Both will deliver introductory remarks and participate on the panel. Other panelists include the following:

• Scott Bauries, professor, The University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law
• Derek Black, professor, The University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law
• Danny Crowe, partner, Crowe LaFave Garfield & Bagley
• Bill Doar, former senator, South Carolina State Senate
• Jim Flanagan, retired professor, The University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law
• John Kittredge, chief justice-elect, South Carolina Supreme Court
• Harry Lightsey, secretary, South Carolina Department of Commerce
• Thomas Limehouse, legal counsel, Office of the Governor
• Alex Sanders, first chief judge, South Carolina Court of Appeals
• Jean Toal, former chief justice, South Carolina Supreme Court
• Dewey Wise, former senator, South Carolina State Senate

The esteemed group of panelists will lead reflective discussions focusing on different amendment areas of the South Carolina Constitution, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Gubernatorial Succession: Article IV, Section 2 
• Creation of the South Carolina Court of Appeals: Article V, Sections 7-10 
• Judicial Reform and the Creation of a Unified Judicial System: Article V, Sections 1-6
• Local Government or "Home Rule": Article VIII
• Debt Limit and the Economic Development Bond Act: Article X, Section 13 (6)(c) 

Sponsors for the event include The University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law, Nelson Mullins, The Riley Institute, South Carolina Bar, and S.C. Supreme Court Historical Society.