The 2007 South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association's Annual Meeting will mark our 40^th such event. This year we will reconvene in Pinehurst, North Carolina from November 1 through November 4. Based on our great experience in Pinehurst at the 2005 Annual Meeting, we expect another outstanding weekend.

   The name Pinehurst is synonymous with golf, and this meeting is a must for any and all golfers practicing defense work throughout the state; our annual tournament will be held at Pinehurst Course No. 5. Additionally, as we learned two years ago, Pinehurst offers much more than golf. We will enjoy all the amenities of the resort's primary hotel, the Carolina, which is a four star hotel offering amazing restaurants and a full service spa. The village of Pinehurst also offers many unique and specialized shopping opportunities. We rescheduled the hunting excursion which was so popular during our last trip to Pinehurst and will also offer an antique tour. As we learned two years ago, Pinehurst presents a relaxing and entertaining weekend for golfers and non-golfers alike.

   We are also extremely excited about our program this year. The first morning of our program gives us the honor of presenting Chief Justice Jean H. Toal and Justice James E. Moore as they help lead a discussion on the new South Carolina Mentor System. By popular demand, we have reinstituted the Substantive Law Breakouts in order to present some specialized practice tips and information for our attendees. Furthermore, our first day will give us the opportunity to learn from lawyers from other jurisdictions as they address issues which are at the forefront of their defense bars.

   The second day of the Meeting also starts with a bang as we present the Honorable James H. Harrison, the judiciary chairman of the South Carolina House of Representatives, to enlighten our group on key legal developments in the state legislature. We will be honored once again to have a presentation by the current Defense Research Institute President, John H. Martin of Dallas, Texas. We will update members on preserving the Record for Appeal. Finally, we will end with two blockbuster presentations. The first will be an expert witness panel discussing changes in South Carolina's laws regarding expert witnesses. Our final speaker will be Senior Judge William W. Wilkins, who will give us an enlightening and entertaining view from the bench on a number of topics, including the ever controversial death penalty.

   As you can tell from both our surroundings and our agenda, we believe this meeting will be one of our most educational and enjoyable in years. We look forward to seeing each of you at the Pinehurst Resort in November.