Floyd McKissick Jr.

Floyd McKissick Jr.
Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 20th district
Assumed office
2007
Preceded by Jeanne Hopkins Lucas
Personal details
Born (1952-11-21) November 21, 1952
Durham, North Carolina
Political party Democratic
Alma mater Clark University
UNC-Chapel Hill
Harvard University
Duke University
Occupation Attorney

Floyd Bixler McKissick Jr. (born November 21, 1952) is a North Carolina attorney and member of the North Carolina Senate.[1][2] He was appointed to the Senate by Governor Mike Easley on April 18, 2007 to replace the late Sen. Jeanne Hopkins Lucas and was later elected and re-elected in his own right. In 2011, he became Deputy Minority (Democratic) Leader in the Senate and chairman of the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus.[3]

McKissick is the son of the late civil rights activist Floyd McKissick.

Education and career

Floyd B. McKissick Jr. specializes in Civil Litigation. His practice areas include Family Law, Business Law and Commercial Litigation and Land Use and Zoning Law, Contract Disputes, and Administration Law.

McKissick received an A.B. Degree in Geography, from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. He received a Master's Degree in Regional Planning from UNC-Chapel Hill, specializing in Land Use Planning and Financial Management, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration, from Harvard University, specializing in Management of State & Local Government and Diplomacy. McKissick received a Juris Doctor Degree from the Duke University School of Law in Durham, North Carolina. McKissick has practiced law since 1983 with a number of law firms, including Dickstein Shapiro in Washington, D.C., and Faison, Brown & Brough in Durham, N.C. McKissick has practiced with McKissick & McKissick since 1990.

McKissick, during the course of his career, has represented Fortune 500 corporations, as well as small businesses, and numerous individuals in a variety of complex matters. He was also certified as a Mediator by the North Carolina Courts in 1995.

He co-authored a guide book for the International Trade Administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce on Attracting Foreign Direct Investment to the United States (1981).

He authored an article for the Construction Law Advisor on When An Owner Can Terminate a Construction Contract Due to Delay (1984).

Professional misconduct charges

In January 2003, McKissick was disciplined by the NC State Bar for professional misconduct involving a conflict of interest, receiving a formal reprimand from the bar's grievance committee. The bar found that McKissick improperly represented both sides in a 2000 dispute involving the estate decisions of an elderly man, Thomas Griswell. The conflict between the man and his younger caretaker, Lily Richardson, spawned a civil case, as well as criminal charges of elder abuse against the caretaker. In disciplining McKissick, the state bar cited evidence that McKissick violated his duty to Thomas Griswell by representing Lily Richardson in her claim to Griswell's house and other assets in the civil suit.[4]

In the early 90s, McKissick was accused of malfeasance in his dealings with local laborers when he failed to pay them for their work while renovating one of his rental homes in Durham, NC.

Appointment to Senate

At the time of his selection by the Durham Democratic Party to fill the vacancy (due to the death of Jeanne Lucas from breast cancer) in District 20 in the state senate, McKissick was the chairman of the Durham County Democratic Party, which raised questions of a conflict of interest in the selection process.[5]

Stance on Marijuana

McKissick is an outspoken advocate for marijuana decriminalization.

References

  1. ↑ "2011-2012 Report for Sen. Floyd McKissick, Jr. - NCCPPR".
  2. ↑ "Floyd B. McKissick, Jr.". Indy Week.
  3. ↑ Khanna, Samiha (February 2, 2011). "McKissick named chairman of N.C. Legislative Black Caucus". Independent Weekly. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  4. ↑ Strom, Jennifer (March 17, 2004). "Floyd McKissick Jr. disciplined by N.C. Bar". Independent Weekly. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  5. ↑ Morgan, Fiona (April 4, 2007). "Durham Dems to select Lucas' successor". Independent Weekly. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
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