John Scott Coalter

J. Scott Coalter is Board Certified Specialist in State and Federal Criminal Law in North Carolina who began defending clients in criminal cases in 1997. He has experience as both a prosecutor and public defender, having served as an Assistant Public Defender for Guilford County, NC from 1997-2001, and an Assistant District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District of NC from 2001-2003. He is qualified for appointment to North Carolina Death Penalty cases and Federal criminal cases. He has appeared before Federal District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Court of Appeals and numerous State District and Superior Courts. Scott has been awarded the prestigious Super Lawyer designation for Criminal Defense by Super Lawyers Magazine. A native of Austin, Texas, Scott later served as an Infantryman in the First Infantry Division Forward in West Germany and graduated Cum Laude from the University of Texas at Austin. He graduated Cum Laude from the Campbell University School of Law in 1996. At Campbell, Scott was published ("Vicarious Liability of a Physician for the Negligence of Other Medical Professionals- North Carolina Charts a Middle Course- The Effect of Harris v. Miller," Campbell Law Review, Vol. 17, No. 2 (1995)) and served as Research Editor on the Campbell Law Review from 1995-96. He is a past President of the Greensboro Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. He is a member of the Guilford Inns of Court and the High Point Bar Association. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees John Scott Coalter included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors "Super Lawyer" Scott Coalter, 2010 - 2016 Other Sources of Feedback About John Scott Coalter Included on the 2026North Carolina Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2024 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2023 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2022 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2021 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2020 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2019 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2018 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2017 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2016 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2015 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2014 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2013 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2012 North Carolina Super Lawyers list

• Member

• McKinney Perry & Coalter, PA, Partner, 2012 - 2014
• McKinney Justice Perry & Coalter, PA, Partner, 2010 - 2012
• Guilford County, NC, Assistant Public Defender, 1997 - 2001
• Guilford County, NC, Assistant District Attorney, 2001 - 2003
• Henson & Henson, Associate, 1996 - 1997
• Morgan Herring Morgan Green Rosenblutt & Gill, LLP, Associate, 2003 - 2005
• McKinney & Justice, PA, Associate, 2005 - 2010
• Languages
• Spanish

• Criminal Conversation: The Ultimate CLE, North Carolina Bar Association , 2011 - Present
• Criminal Masters in Advocacy, Advocates for Justice, 2011 - Present

• North Carolina, 1996
• U.S. District Court Middle District of North Carolina, 1997
• U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 2006
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of North Carolina, 2006
• U.S. District Court Western District of North Carolina, 2013
• Specialties and Certifications
• State and Federal Criminal Law, North Carolina State Board of Legal Specialization, 2005

• Greensboro Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (Past President)
• American Inns of Court, 2005 - Present (Master)