Charleston School of Law alumnus and adjunct professor Ben Pogue (’09) was honored with the 2025 Cotton Harness Peace Award at the SC Bar House of Delegates meeting at last week’s South Carolina Bar Convention.
The Cotton Harness Peace Award was established by the Dispute Resolution Section to be given out on a periodic basis as determined by the Section Council to those organizations and individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service, leadership or innovation in the area of alternate dispute resolution.
The Award is named in honor of Connie “Cotton” Harness. Harness, an Orangeburg native, was among the first in South Carolina to recognize the value of alternate dispute resolution, adopt it in his law practice, and he was instrumental in elevating the status of mediation and arbitration throughout the State.
“He is literally a peace walker,” said Yolanda Courie, Dispute Resolution Section Chair, at the awards ceremony. “With Ben, mediation is more than helping attorneys settle cases; it’s a calling that extends to his responsibility as a citizen.”
Pogue was among the original graduating class, in 2007, at Charleston School of Law. He is a also a member of the Law School Forensic Club. Pogue serves as civil litigation attorney and mediator for The Law Office of Sean M. Wilson (’11), LLC.
Charleston School of Law will host its annual ceremony on Tuesday, April 22 at 5:00 p.m. on the second floor landing area. The school will recognize outstanding achievements by faculty, students and staff.
Final Exam Week for the Spring 2025 semester will be held at Charleston School of Law will be held Wednesday-Saturday, April 30–May 3 and Monday-Thursday, May 5 – May 8.
