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The Death Penalty Resource & Defense Center
is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of death penalty representation in South Carolina.
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The Death Penalty Resource & Defense Center is governed by a Board of Directors. The Board elects its own members, who serve without compensation for renewable terms of three years.
Current board members are: |
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J. David Almeida
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Chair
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PO Box 603, Lexington SC 29071, 803-546-6379
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Dave Almeida works in public affairs for a major pharmaceutical company. He previously served as the executive director of the South Carolina chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness from 2000 - 2007. Mr. Almeida received a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration from The Citadel in 1990.
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Vance Cowden, Esquire
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University of South Carolina School of Law, 701 S. Main Street, Columbia, SC, 29208 803.777.2278
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Vance Cowden is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Law in the Department of Clinical Legal Studies at the University of South Carolina School of Law. Professor Cowden joined the USC Law faculty as a Clinical Teaching Associate in 1974 and became a full-time member of the Department of Clinical Legal Studies faculty in 1978 where he served as Chair and Director of Clinics from 1992 to 2002. His teaching and scholarly interests are in criminal law and juvenile justice.
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Teresa L. Norris, Esquire
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Blume, Weyble & Norris LLC, 1247 Sumter Street, Columbia SC 29201, 803.765.1044
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Ms. Norris is in private practice in Columbia, South Carolina. She previously served as the Director of the Center for Capital Litigation from 1996 to 2006. She has represented approximately 30 capital defendants throughout all stages of the proceedings from trial to clemency. While most of her work is in South Carolina, she has also represented capital defendants in North Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, the military, and the federal system.
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Dan Westbrook, Esquire
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1320 Main Street, Columbia SC 29201, 803.255.9456
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Dan Westbrook is a partner in the Columbia office of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough. Mr. Westbrook's practice focuses on health law and commercial litigation. He also counsels health care providers on a variety of health law issues. Mr. Westbrook is past chairman of the South Carolina Bar's Health Law Committee, Nelson Mullins' Pro Bono Committee, and has taught law as an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law.
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Gretchen Smith
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Edisto Island
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Gretchen M. Smith has worked in the area of public relations and government affairs for more than 25 years. She began working with mental health groups about 10 years ago and has been actively involved in death penalty issues for the past 5 years. She has a B.A. in English from the University of Alabama (Birmingham) and a Master's Degree in Journalism from the University of South Carolina. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Edisto Island Historic Preservation Society.
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Charles Grose
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600 Momument Street, Greenwood, SC 29646, 864.227.1104
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Charles Grose is the Circuit Defender for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, which includes Abbeville, Greenwood, Laurens, and Newberry Counties. From 2002 to 2008, he was the President of the South Carolina Public Defender Association. He is a member of the Criminal Law Section Council of the South Carolina Bar, serving as Chairman in 2005-2006 and as Section Delegate to the House of Delegates in 2007-2008.
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Gloria Prevost
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Columbia, SC
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Gloria Prevost is the director of a statewide disability rights organization. She has been active in disability rights at state and national level for over 20 years, in South Carolina, Virginia and Illinois. Gloria takes a special interest in criminal justice for people with mental illnesses. She holds a Master of Social Work from Tulane University.
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Heyward Bannister
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Columbia, SC
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Heyward Bannister was raised in Gadsden, South Carolina. He attended the University of South Carolina, and graduated with a degree in Psychology. After college, he moved on to employment with the South Carolina Department of Corrections. He later completed his Masters degree in Criminal Justice and then accepted a position as Senior Associate with Blackwater and Associates, a marketing and consulting firm. In 1986, Heyward Bannister became a co-founder of Sunrise Enterprises of Columbia, the first African-American owned statewide public relations firm in South Carolina. In August of 1992, Bannister became the State Director for the South Carolina Clinton/Gore Campaign. This career change took him to Washington, D.C. to work with the Clinton Administration, the highlight of his political career. After working on the Clinton Presidential Transition Team, he was appointed White House Liaison for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in 1993. In this role he served as the personal adviser and consultant to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Heyward returned to Columbia in 1999 and worked for a Fortune 500 company. In February of 2007, Bannister resumed his work as owner of BANCO/Bannister Company. He is a life member of the NAACP. He is active in many civic and community organizations. “Keep Hope Alive” is Heyward Bannister’s battle cry. He believes that to whom much is given, much is required. On a daily basis, Bannister works to bring blessings to others as he has been so richly blessed.
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INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY ON DEATH ROW IN SOUTH CAROLINA |
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Bell, Jr. , William Henry |
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>> READ MORE |
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