Attorney James E. Ferguson II

James E. Ferguson was invited to practice with Julius Chambers in 1967 after he graduated from Columbia Law School. He began practicing with Chambers and Adam Stein with whom he shared a desk in the small unheated library of Chamber’s first office. A year later, they formed the law firm Chambers Stein Ferguson & Lanning. The firm was the first integrated law firm in the State of North Carolina and was among the first integrated firms throughout the Southeast. The firm established itself as a leader in the area of civil rights, employment, voting, education, criminal, personal injury and medical malpractice. Ferguson became the titular leader of the firm after Chambers left the firm to become Director Counsel for the NAACP-Legal Defense and Education Fund in 1984. Ferguson’s interest in civil rights work had its beginning in Asheville, North Carolina where he was born and raised by his parents, James E. Ferguson, Sr. and Nina Ferguson. The youngest of seven children, Ferguson began his lifelong passion of advocacy for others while in high school where he and other young African Americans joined forces to demand equal rights and equality in Asheville’s public schools and public accommodations. He carried that fiery advocacy with him as he worked all over the State of North Carolina on behalf of accused persons, injured and discriminated victims. He is known for a number of cases including the Wilmington Ten and Darryl Hunt to name a few. From the 1980’s he was the go-to lawyer for police misconduct and excessive force cases. His exemplary work on medical negligence and other personal injury cases led him to be invited to join The Inner Circle, a group of highly accomplished lawyers limited to only two persons from each state. In addition to his work representing clients, Ferguson served the legal profession tirelessly as a member of various committees of the North Carolina State Bar, North Carolina Advocates for Justice, North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers, NAACP-LDF Cooperating Attorney, National Institute for Trial Advocacy, ACLU, Black Lawyers Association of South Africa, and the Innocence Commission. He was an early advocate of the decriminalization of marijuana and crack/cocaine with an emphasis on treatment for addiction rather than jail time. His study and travels across the country and globe helped shape a broad view of the world and reinforced his belief that one should keep an open mind and act based on facts and what is fair and just to the individual and to society. Along the way, he grew to understand and embrace the African term ubuntu which translates to “I cannot be the best that I can be until you are the best that you can be.” Fergie is survived by his brother, Wiliam Ferguson, three children, James E. “Jay” Ferguson, III, Taj Ferguson and Kali Ferguson; four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. The Ferguson Chambers & Sumter family is honored and privileged to have had the opportunity to work with Fergie for over 57 years. He served as a lawyer here longer than anyone else. His guidance and support over the years has helped shape the professional lives and careers of scores of support staff, young law clerks, associates and partners. For that we are most thankful. Most of all, we are grateful for his kindness, generosity and compassion. He will be missed.

Attorney James E. Ferguson II

October 10, 1942 - July 21, 2025