Washington, DC (July 30, 2018) – Attorney Christopher A. Wellborn of Rock Hill, SC, received the Champion of Justice Legal Award from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) at the Association's Annual Meeting in Miami Beach, FL, on July 29.
“Chris Wellborn is a true and dedicated soldier for the criminal defense function and the mission of this great Association,” said NACDL Immediate Past President Rick Jones, who presented Wellborn with NACDL’s Champion of Justice Award. “The epitome of an unsung hero, Chris Wellborn has for many years served in multiple leadership roles at NACDL, expertly advancing the promise of the U.S. Constitution and the cause of criminal justice reform in this nation.”
Wellborn, a life member of NACDL, joined in 1994 and has participated on the Board of Directors since 2010. He served as NACDL Treasurer from 2015 to 2016 and as Parliamentarian from 2017 to 2018. Wellborn is the current co-chair of NACDL’s Sousveillance Task Force. He also currently serves on the Membership, Mental Health, and Corrections Committees, and is a member of the Task Force on Restoration of Rights and Status after Conviction. He previously served as chair of the Budget Committee and as a member on the Long Range Planning and Public Defense Committees. Wellborn is also a founding member, past president, and board member of the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is also a Past President of the York County Bar Association, and has served as Chair of the Criminal Law Section of the South Carolina Bar Association.
As a sole practitioner, Wellborn is primarily devoted to trial work, in both state and federal courts, and continues to advocate in appellate courts as well. He is a member of the South Carolina Bar as well as the District of South Carolina and 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. His practice runs the gamut from minor misdemeanors to capital murder cases. Chris is a frequent presenter at criminal defense conferences and training sessions. He began his career as a York County prosecutor and started practicing criminal defense in 1990. In 1997, Wellborn opened his own firm, Christopher A. Wellborn, P.A.
Wellborn received his B.A. from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, in 1983. He graduated with his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1988, and also from the National Criminal Defense College.
Contacts
Ivan Dominguez, NACDL Director of Public Affairs and Communications, (202) 465-7662 or idominguez@nacdl.org
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is the preeminent organization advancing the mission of the criminal defense bar to ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime or wrongdoing. A professional bar association founded in 1958, NACDL's many thousands of direct members in 28 countries – and 90 state, provincial and local affiliate organizations totaling up to 40,000 attorneys – include private criminal defense lawyers, public defenders, military defense counsel, law professors and judges committed to preserving fairness and promoting a rational and humane criminal legal system.