NC DISTRICT COURT JUDGE DISTRICT 36 SEAT 05
The NC District Court hears civil cases involving less than $25,000 and criminal misdemeanors. District Court also oversees juvenile court and the magistrates, which handle things like small claims and evictions. Judges are elected for 4 year terms. There are 282 judges in 41 districts across the state, most of them covering either one or two counties. Legislation in 2023 numerically realigned/renumbered the District Court and other court districts to align with the Prosecutorial districts.
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Gregory R. (Greg) Hayes
(REP)
What experience and skills make you the best candidate for this office? (Max. 750 characters)
You are running for a partisan judicial position. What role does the platform of your political party play in your work as a judge on the court? (Max. 750 characters)
What experiences do you bring to the kind of cases likely to come before you in the areas of family law, criminal law and juvenile justice issues? (Max. 750 characters)
Additional Comments (Max. 1000 characters)
Position/philosophy statement
As a Judge there are 3 core principles that I follow. 1. I follow my Christian beliefs as a Judge. 2. I follow and respect the US Constitution as a Judge. 3. I believe that convicted criminals should receive appropriate punishment.
Current Occupation
Retired Superior Court Judge
I have been a lawyer since I graduated from Wake Forest Law School in 1983. I have served as an Assistant DA from 1983-1988. I have served as a lawyer in private practice from 1988-1994. I have served as a District Court Judge from 1994-2014. I have served as a Superior Court Judge from 2014-2024. I currently serve as Emergency Superior Court Judge after being appointed by Governor Roy Cooper. I also currently serve as a Certified Superior Court Mediator. I have presided over cases from First Degree Murder to traffic tickets. I am married to Kimberly T. Hayes since 1991 and we have 2 happy and successful adult children. I serve on numerous civic boards and organizations and am a member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church.
I think the Republican Party is the party of the most conservative and Constitutional Judges. However, I do NOT make any judicial decisions based on politics. I have run for Judge in NC in partisan and non-partisan elections.
While I was a District Court Judge from 1994-2014 I was certified by the state of NC as a Family Law and Juvenile Judge. I heard and presided over thousands of those type of cases. Nearly 100 percent of my trials were upheld on appeal to the NC Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.
I would like to continue my lifelong service to the citizens of Burke, Caldwell and Catawba counties as a District Court Judge. I humbly ask for your vote on March 3, 2026 in the Republican Primary. There is no candidate in the November election, so the Republican primary will decide the election.
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