Source: Office of United States Attorneys
RALEIGH, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Michael Easley announced that the Eastern District of North Carolina’s (EDNC) Criminal Chief, Assistant U.S. Attorney Felice Corpening was awarded the Judge David Daniel Award by the Eastern North Carolina District of the Federal Bar Association. The award was created to in memory of Magistrate Judge David Daniel to honor his integrity, commitment, and service to the legal community. The award honors one attorney who has shown a commitment to the legal profession, to the EDNC, to the clients they serve, and to their community.
“Felice Corpening sets the standard for lawyers across the state and the country,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “In leading the Criminal Division for the Eastern District of North Carolina, nearly every criminal prosecution crosses her desk before proceeding to court. In her review, she ensures equity, fairness and justice. Her integrity and quest to make a positive impact in the community are unparalleled. I am privileged to have the opportunity to work with her as we seek to make North Carolina safer for all.”
“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award. I believe the legal community has a duty to exemplify the highest standards of ethics, professionalism, and dedication to the communities we serve because our work, our cause, our mission extends beyond the courtroom,” said Criminal Chief Felice Corpening. “Being the recipient of the Judge David Daniel Award has renewed my commitment to the principles that define our honorable profession.”
Corpening has been a prosecutor with the EDNC for 25 years, and currently serves as the Criminal Division Chief, a position she has held since early 2022. Corpening served as the Deputy Criminal Chief over the Economic Crimes Section from 2012 to 2022. Prior to joining EDNC, Corpening was an Assistant Public Defender in Fayetteville for three years where she represented indigent defendants in a variety of cases ranging from petty larceny, felonious breaking and entering, drug trafficking, and murder. Corpening also serves as an adjunct professor at UNC-School of Law.
The Judge David Daniel Award was created in 2017. To qualify for the award, a nominee must practice in EDNC and must exemplify the ideals of the legal profession and further the goals of equal justice under the law. For more information on the award, visit the Federal Bar Association website.