Position/philosophy statement
The independent and impartial nature of our judicial system is one of the great promises of the American democracy. Our system guarantees that everyone be given equal protection by and equal accountability to our laws.
Current Occupation
Attorney
Age (optional)
46
The crucial function of the District Court Judge is seeking justice within our community. A judge must balance the needs of the individual with the needs of the community, all while applying the laws to the facts of each case with equality and fidelity. I have been a practicing attorney in our Judicial District for thirteen years. My practice has been almost entirely in District Court, where I have handled practically every kind of case from every angle within the District Court’s jurisdiction. I’m very fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from the examples set by the judges of our district. These judges have given me wonderful examples of how a judge must treat all participants with dignity and respect.
The political platform of my party plays very little in my work as a judge. A judge must view equally all who come before them, regardless of ideology or other background. Our democracy depends on the judiciary to be independent from the needs and machinations of the other branches of government.
I have handled nearly every kind of case that can be brought in District Court. My primary focus has been family law, juvenile and DSS cases, and domestic violence cases. I am uniquely and deeply familiar with the issues that arise in such cases.
This is a crucial time to reinforce the judicial branch of our government. The District Court Judge role has a unique ability to directly impact the lives of everyone in our community, and it is essential that we elect someone who will treat everyone fairly and respectfully. The sanctity of individual free will as well as clear-eyed application of the law are priorities imperative to be balanced. Our community deserves judges committed to equal and respectful treatment of all who appear before them.
Current Occupation
Lawyer
Age (optional)
60
I have practiced law for more than 30 years in the District and Superior Courts in multiple counties of Northwest North Carolina. I spent 8 years on the Watauga County Board of Elections. I am an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Army, having served with the 3rd Infantry Division in Western Europe as an M-1 Abrams tank mechanic. I am a graduate of the Wake Forest University School of Law, Appalachian State University, and Watauga High School. I am a husband, a parent, and a small business owner who knows what it is like to struggle through tough times and celebrate through joyful ones. I have deep roots in this community and a genuine understanding of the people I will serve.
My loyalty is to the Constitution and the law. The politics of the parties in Court should not affect the way the law is applied to their case or the way they are treated by the Court.
I have practiced law for more than 30 years. From the outset, my work has centered on courtroom advocacy, including advocacy across a wide range of District Court matters. Over the decades, I’ve handled nearly every type of case heard in District Court, including civil disputes (such as contracts, debtor-creditor issues, and consumer law issues), family law (divorce, alimony, equitable distribution, domestic violence, and child custody), landlord-tenant matters (evictions), juvenile delinquency in DJJ proceedings, and abuse/neglect/dependency cases in DSS matters—representing parents, the Guardian ad Litem, and the Department of Social Services. For the past 12 years, my practice has focused primarily on criminal defense.
In my decades of practice, I have watched people face their darkest days in District Court: suffering heartbreak, loss, broken homes, and fear for the future. I have seen how compassionate, thoughtful rulings can bring healing, restore hope, and rebuild lives. Sadly, I have also seen how arbitrary, unfair rulings deepen wounds that never fully heal and generate resentment toward other parties, the law, and the justice system itself. An effective District Court Judge listens to all parties, applies the law fairly without fear or favor, and issues the sort of compassionate, thoughtful rulings that allow people to heal and give them confidence in their justice system. I will be a District Court Judge who strives to achieve those goals.
