Campbell Law 50th Anniversary Spotlight: Hoyt Gold Tessener ‘88 

Hoyt Gold Tessener ‘88, who currently serves on the law school’s Board of Visitors, is a North Carolina Special Superior Court Judge. Working for more than 38 years, he launched his career after graduating from Campbell Law. A native of Shelby, North Carolina, Tessener earned his bachelor’s degree in textiles at North Carolina State University in 1983.

Current Role: North Carolina Special Superior Court Judge

Why Campbell Law? 

Tessener had been working in a textile mill in South Carolina and wanted to return to North Carolina for law school. He felt that Campbell Law was welcoming and he appreciated the performance-based admission and interview process Campbell provided. 

On practice 

His practice area was litigation, and competition is what drew him to the subject. Tessener stated he never expected to be a litigator, but Campbell Law makes all of its students take trial advocacy, which ended up being the subject he most resonated with.

A lesson that stuck 

Tessener said one of his favorite quotes is: “Good ethics is good strategy.”

People who shaped you 

Tessener credits Professor Emeriti Jim McLaughlin, his classmate Bynum Marshall ‘88 and his mentor John Broderick for shaping him during his time at Campbell Law.

Advice to current students

“Learn the law and everything else such as grades and career will take care of themselves.” 

The next 50 years 

Tessener believes that Campbell Law should continue to focus on a value-based education. 

Sidebar

Currently reading/listening to: Scott Galloway

Most adventurous thing: Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. 

Favorite Raleigh spot: The courthouse 

Proudest moment: Watching my daughter try out for baseball when she was the only girl and couldn’t play very well.