Honoring 50 Years Of Service To The Legal Profession: Smithfield Attorney Jack O’Hale Receives Prestigious State Bar Award

RALEIGH — In a ceremony held in Raleigh, N.C. State Bar President Matthew Smith presented Smithfield attorney John P. (Jack) O’Hale with the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award on September 18, recognizing five decades of exceptional service to the legal profession.

This prestigious honor, awarded by the North Carolina State Bar, is reserved for attorneys who have demonstrated exemplary service, integrity, and dedication to the legal field. Jack O’Hale’s career is a testament to these values.

With 50 years of experience in both criminal and civil litigation, O’Hale has built a legacy not only in Johnston County and Eastern North Carolina but in courtrooms across the United States. He has practiced before the United States Supreme Court, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and every federal court in North Carolina, and he has also appeared in courts in South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Indiana, New Mexico, Ohio, and California.

A 1972 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in history, O’Hale went on to earn his law degree from UNC School of Law in 1975. He began his legal career in Wayne County before serving as an Assistant District Attorney in the 11th Judicial District from 1976 to 1979, covering Johnston, Harnett, and Lee Counties.

In 1979, O’Hale partnered with attorneys James Narron and Hampton Whittington to form the law firm Narron, O’Hale, and Whittington, P.A. Over the course of his career, he tried approximately 300 jury trials and thousands of non-jury trials, as well as numerous administrative matters.

O’Hale’s contributions to the legal profession extend beyond the courtroom. He was one of seven attorneys selected by the State Bar to help establish North Carolina’s first board certification program for lawyers—a program he helped build, administer, and improve over time. He is board certified as a specialist in criminal law (State and Federal).

In 2007, O’Hale was named a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers—an honor recognizing excellence in trial advocacy, ethical conduct, and professionalism. In 2020, he received the Wade M. Smith Award as Criminal Defense Attorney of the Year.

O’Hale’s professional accolades are numerous: AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, regularly listed among North Carolina’s “Super Lawyers” (Top 10 and Top 100), named “Legal Elite” by Business North Carolina in criminal law, and repeatedly featured in Best Lawyers in America—earning “Lawyer of the Year” honors in 2019 and 2024.

He has held leadership positions in both the 11th Judicial District Bar and the Johnston County Bar Association and served on the Johnston County Board of Education from 2000 to 2008.

Throughout his career, O’Hale has mentored young attorneys and remained committed to legal education, delivering lectures and CLE presentations at UNC, Duke, Wake Forest, the N.C. Bar Association, and many others. Together with his wife Claudia, he endowed a scholarship at UNC School of Law and has served on the UNC Law Alumni Association Board, the UNC Law Foundation, and the UNC Board of Visitors.

A quiet but consistent advocate for justice, O’Hale has provided pro bono representation to those in need, never seeking recognition for his service. He remains a vocal supporter of public education and the importance of community involvement.

“Jack O’Hale embodies what it means to be a lawyer in service to others,” said Bar President Matthew Smith. “His lifelong commitment to justice, mentorship, and professional excellence has left an indelible mark on North Carolina’s legal community.”

As he reflects on his 50-year career, Mr. O’Hale remains guided by a simple but profound belief: that practicing law is both an honor and a duty—and that lawyers have a moral obligation to serve those less fortunate.