The Supreme Court of South Carolina

PRESS RELEASE
(June 6, 2007)

Lesley M. Coggiola has been appointed Disciplinary Counsel for the Supreme Court Commissions on Lawyer and Judicial Conduct. She will be replacing Henry B. Richardson, Jr., who is retiring after over ten years of distinguished service.

As Disciplinary Counsel, Coggiola will be responsible for investigating and prosecuting allegations of lawyer and judicial misconduct and incapacity before both Commissions. She will be responsible for managing the Office of the Disciplinary Counsel which is staffed by attorneys, investigators and clerical personnel. Coggiola and her staff are also assisted by active members of the South Carolina Bar who serve part-time by appointment of the Supreme Court.

Coggiola is currently Chief Staff Attorney for the Court of Appeals. She is a 1988 graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law. Prior to attending law school, Coggiola spent eleven years with IBM in systems and marketing. Since admission to the Bar she served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Carol Connor, Assistant Public Defender, Assistant Appellate Defender, Of Counsel for Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough and Chief Public Defender for Richland County. She served on the House of Delegates for the South Carolina Bar and Chair of the Criminal Law Section. Coggiola was a Commissioner of the Office of Indigent Defense, former President of the South Carolina Public Defender Association and member of the American Council of Chief Defenders. Currently she is a member of the John Belton O’Neall Inn of Court and an adjunct instructor at USC School of Law.

In the community Coggiola is a founder and board member of The Women’s Shelter, a member of the board of the Community Mediation Center and a mentor for the University of South Carolina women’s athletic program. She has two married children, Jennifer and Gabe and a grandson, Brand Morgan and is a member of Trinity Cathedral in Columbia.

The Clerk of the Supreme Court of South Carolina is the point of contact for information about this press release. The Clerk may be contacted at 803-734-1080 or at P.O. Box 11330, Columbia, SC 29211.