North Carolina Judicial Branch Celebrates Women’s Equality Day on August 26

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Judicial Branch celebrates Women’s Equality Day on August 26 which was the date selected to commemorate the anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution. This year’s celebration is of particular importance because it is the centennial of the 19th Amendment’s ratification in 1920. 

“It is vitally important to remember the struggles and accomplishments of women in North Carolina and the United States as a whole,” said Chief Justice Cheri Beasley. “We stand on the shoulders of the women who came before us and blazed the trail. Their struggles created opportunities for future generations of women to lead and to serve.”

North Carolina has a long history of trailblazing women who have served as judges and justices in our state courts. In 1968, Judge Elreta Alexander became the first black woman in the country elected to the district court bench. She later ran for Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, but lost her primary election to a fire extinguisher salesman with no college education or law license.

Chief Justice Susie Sharp ultimately won the election that year, becoming the first woman to lead the state’s Supreme Court, and only the second woman in the country to lead a state’s highest appellate court.

Near the end of her tenure, Chief Justice Susie Sharp appointed Judge Naomi Morris to serve as Chief Judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, making her the first woman to lead that court since its creation in 1967.

One hundred years after ratification of the 19th Amendment, women play key leadership roles in the North Carolina Judicial Branch. Both of North Carolina’s statewide appellate courts are led by women, Supreme Court of North Carolina Chief Justice Cheri Beasley, and North Carolina Court of Appeals Chief Judge Linda McGee. A total of 164 women serve as North Carolina district court judges, superior court judges, and judges and justices on North Carolina’s appellate courts. In addition, 11 women currently serve as elected district attorneys, and another 58 serve as elected clerks of superior court. In all, women make up 43% of all elected positions in North Carolina’s Judicial Branch.

“One hundred years is not that long when it comes to essential rights like voting,” said Chief Judge Linda McGee of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the second highest court in the state. “Perhaps your mother or your grandmother experienced the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave her a voice in her government, and broke the glass ceiling that empowers today’s women with self-determination and gives them equal opportunities.”

In honor of the women currently serving on the judicial bench in North Carolina, below is a list recognizing the women judges and justices in our state organized by court and district.  

Name Position County District
Cheri L. Beasley Chief Justice
Supreme Court
Wake Supreme Court
Robin E. Hudson Associate Justice Supreme Court Wake Supreme Court
Anita Sue Earls Associate Justice Supreme Court Wake Supreme Court
Linda M. McGee Chief Judge
Court Of Appeals
Wake Court of Appeals
Wanda G. Bryant Judge
Court of Appeals
Wake Court of Appeals
Donna S. Stroud Judge
Court of Appeals
Wake Court of Appeals
Lucy Noble Inman Judge
Court of Appeals
Wake Court of Appeals
Valerie Johnson Zachary Judge
Court of Appeals
Wake Court of Appeals
Allegra Katherine Torrey Collins Judge
Court of Appeals
Wake Court of Appeals
Phyllis Marie
Gorham
Senior Resident
Superior Court
Judge
New Hanover  Superior Court 5
Alma L. Hinton Senior Resident
Superior Court
Judge
Halifax Superior Court 6A
Imelda J. Pate Senior Resident
Superior Court
Judge
Lenoir Superior Court 8A
Cynthia King
Sturges
Superior Court
Judge
Franklin Superior Court 9
Rebecca W. Holt Superior Court
Judge
Wake Superior Court 10
Claire V. Hill Superior Court
Judge
Cumberland Superior Court 12
Mary Ann L. Tally Superior Court
Judge
Cumberland Superior Court 12
Gale M. Adams Superior Court
Judge
Cumberland Superior Court 12
Josephine Elizabeth Kerr Superior Court
Judge
Durham Superior Court 14
Dawn Mcdonald Layton   Superior Court
Judge
Richmond Superior Court 16A
Angela B. Puckett Senior Resident
Superior Court
Judge
Stokes Superior Court 17B
Lora Christine
Cubbage 
Superior Court
Judge
Guilford Superior Court 18
Susan E. Bray Superior Court
Judge
Guilford Superior Court 18
Anna Mills Wagoner Senior Resident
Superior Court
Judge
Rowan Superior Court 19C
Julia S. Gullett Superior Court
Judge
Alexander Superior Court 22A
Lori Irvin Hamilton Superior Court
Judge
Davidson Superior Court 22B
Karen
Eady-Williams
Superior Court
Judge
Mecklenburg Superior Court 26
Lisa C. Bell Superior Court
Judge
Mecklenburg Superior Court 26
Carla Nolita
Archie
Superior Court
Judge
Mecklenburg Superior Court 26
Athena F. Brooks Special Judge Henderson Superior Court  Special Judge
Tanya T. Wallace Emergency Judge Wake Superior Court Emergency Judges
Yvonne M. Evans Emergency Judge Wake Superior Court Emergency Judges
Sharon Tracey
Barrett
Emergency Judge Wake Superior Court Emergency Judges
Eula Etheridge
Reid
District Court
Judge
Pasquotank District Court 1
Amber Davis
Malarney  
District Court
Judge
Pasquotank District Court 1
Regina Rodgers Parker   Chief District
Court Judge 
Beaufort District Court 2
Sarah C. Seaton Chief District
Court Judge 
Onslow District Court 4
Carol Ann Jones District Court
Judge
Duplin District Court 4
Robin Wicks
Robinson
District Court
Judge
New Hanover  District Court 5
Sandra Alice Ray District Court
Judge
New Hanover  District Court 5
Lindsey Leigh
McKee
District Court
Judge
New Hanover  District Court 5
Melinda H. Crouch District Court
Judge
New Hanover  District Court 5
Brenda Green
Branch
Chief District
Court Judge 
Halifax District Court 6
Teresa R. Freeman District Court
Judge
Halifax District Court 6
Vershenia B. Moody District Court
Judge
Northampton  District Court 6
Elizabeth
Freshwater-Smith
District Court
Judge
Nash District Court 7
Elizabeth Anne
Heath
Chief District
Court Judge 
Lenoir District Court 8
Annette Webb
Turik
District Court
Judge
Wayne District Court 8
Ericka Y. James District Court
Judge
Wayne District Court 8
Amanda E.
Stevenson
District Court
Judge
Franklin District Court 9
Sarah Katherine
Kelly Burnette
District Court
Judge
Granville District Court 9
Caroline Slater Burnette District Court
Judge
Vance District Court 9
Debra Ann Smith Sasser District Court
Judge
Wake District Court 10
Lori Grundy
Christian
District Court
Judge
Wake District Court 10
Christine Marie Walczyk  District Court
Judge
Wake District Court 10
Anna E. Worley District Court
Judge
Wake District Court 10
Mahsaman Samaneh Hamadani District Court
Judge
Wake District Court 10
Monica Marie
Bousman 
District Court
Judge
Wake District Court 10
Ashleigh Parker Dunston District Court
Judge
Wake District Court 10
Margaret P. Eagles District Court
Judge
Wake District Court 10
Jacquelyn L. Lee Chief District
Court Judge 
Lee District Court 11
Joy Anita Jones District Court
Judge
Harnett District Court 11
Addie M Harris
Rawls
District Court
Judge
Johnston District Court 11
Mary J. Howard
Wells
District Court
Judge
Johnston District Court 11
Caron H. Stewart District Court
Judge
Johnston District Court 11
Toni S. King District Court
Judge
Cumberland District Court 12
Cheri L. Siler-Mack District Court
Judge
Cumberland District Court 12
Frances Monet McDuffie  District Court
Judge
Cumberland District Court 12
April M. Smith District Court
Judge
Cumberland District Court 12
Caitlin Young Evans District Court
Judge
Cumberland District Court 12
Tiffany M. Whitfield District Court
Judge
Cumberland District Court 12
Pauline Hankins District Court
Judge
Brunswick District Court 13
Carolyn Ashley
Gore
District Court
Judge
Bladen District Court 13
Patricia Dyanne
Evans
Chief District
Court Judge 
Durham District Court 14
Amanda L. Maris District Court
Judge
Durham District Court 14
Doretta L. Walker District Court
Judge
Durham District Court 14
Shamieka L.
Rhinehart
District Court
Judge
Durham District Court 14
Kathryn Whitaker Overby District Court
Judge
Alamance District Court 15A
Samantha Hyatt
Cabe
Chief District
Court Judge 
Orange District Court 15B
Sherrill Toler Murrell District Court
Judge
Orange District Court 15B
Beverly A. Scarlett District Court
Judge
Orange District Court 15B
Amanda Lynn Wilson Chief District
Court Judge 
Richmond District Court 16A
Sophia Marie
Gatewood Crawford
District Court
Judge
Anson District Court 16A
Chevonne R.
Wallace
District Court
Judge
Richmond District Court 16A
Judith M. Daniels Chief District
Court Judge 
Robeson District Court 16B
Angelica Chavis McIntyre District Court
Judge
Robeson District Court 16B
Brooke Locklear
Clark
District Court
Judge
Robeson District Court 16B
Vanessa E. Burton District Court
Judge
Robeson District Court 16B
Christine Fields Strader  District Court
Judge
Rockingham District Court 17A
Erica Standfield Brandon District Court
Judge
Person District Court 17A
Marion McNeil Boone District Court
Judge
Surry District Court 17B
Teresa H. Vincent Chief District
Court Judge 
Guilford District Court 18
Susan R. Burch District Court
Judge
Guilford District Court 18
Angela Cheryl Foster District Court
Judge
Guilford District Court 18
Tonia Armanda Cutchin  District Court
Judge
Guilford District Court 18
Angela M. Bullard District Court
Judge
Guilford District Court 18
Tabatha Phillips Holliday District Court
Judge
Guilford District Court 18
Kimberly M. Fletcher District Court
Judge
Guilford District Court 18
Christy Elizabeth Wilhelm Chief District
Court Judge 
Cabarrus District Court 19A
Juanita Boger-Allen District Court
Judge
Cabarrus District Court 19A
Jennifer Brooke Schmidly District Court
Judge
Randolph District Court 19B
Sarah Neely Lanier District Court
Judge
Randolph District Court 19B
Beth Spencer Dixon District Court
Judge
Rowan District Court 19C
Regina M. Joe District Court
Judge
Hoke District Court 19D
Tiffany M. Bartholomew  District Court
Judge
Hoke District Court 19D
Erin Suzanne Hucks District Court
Judge
Union District Court 20B
Lisa V. Menefee Chief District
Court Judge 
Forsyth District Court 21
Denise S. Hartsfield District Court
Judge
Forsyth District Court 21
Laurie Louise
Hutchins
District Court
Judge
Forsyth District Court 21
Carrie Freeman Vickery  District Court
Judge
Forsyth District Court 21
Victoria L. Roemer District Court
Judge
Forsyth District Court 21
Camille Banks Prince District Court
Judge
Forsyth District Court 21
Carole Anne Hicks District Court
Judge
Iredell District Court 22A
Christine Underwood District Court
Judge
Iredell District Court 22A
Deborah P Brown District Court
Judge
Iredell District Court 22A
Mary Fowler
Covington 
District Court
Judge
Davidson District Court 22B
April Carthena
Wood Berg
District Court
Judge
Davie District Court 22B
Jeanie R. Houston District Court
Judge
Wilkes District Court 23
Rebecca Elizabeth Eggers-Gryder District Court
Judge
Yancey District Court 24
Sherri W. Elliott District Court
Judge
Catawba District Court 25
Amy Sigmon Walker District Court
Judge
Catawba District Court 25
Tyyawdi M. Hands District Court
Judge
Mecklenburg District Court 26
Elizabeth T. Trosch District Court
Judge
Mecklenburg District Court 26
Rickye
Mckoy-Mitchell
District Court
Judge
Mecklenburg District Court 26
Jena P. Culler District Court
Judge
Mecklenburg District Court 26
Christy T. Mann District Court
Judge
Mecklenburg District Court 26
Aretha V. Blake District Court
Judge
Mecklenburg District Court 26
Karen Denise McCallum  District Court
Judge
Mecklenburg District Court 26
Paige B. McThenia District Court
Judge
Mecklenburg District Court 26
Paulina Nowah
Havelka 
District Court
Judge
Mecklenburg District Court 26
Kimberly Yvette
Best
District Court
Judge
Mecklenburg District Court 26
Faith Alexandra Fickling-Alvarez District Court
Judge
Mecklenburg District Court 26
Tracy H. Hewett District Court
Judge
Mecklenburg District Court 26
Angela G. Hoyle District Court
Judge
Gaston District Court 27A
Pennie Miller
Thrower
District Court
Judge
Gaston District Court 27A
Jeannette Racquel Reeves District Court
Judge
Cleveland District Court 27B
Meredith A. Shuford District Court
Judge
Lincoln District Court 27B
Susan Marie
Dotson-Smith
District Court
Judge
Buncombe District Court 28
Patricia Kaufmann Young District Court
Judge
Buncombe District Court 28
Andrea F. Dray District Court
Judge
Buncombe District Court 28
Julie M. Kepple District Court
Judge
Buncombe District Court 28
Ellen McDaniel
Shelley
District Court
Judge
Rutherford District Court 29A
Emily Greene Cowan District Court
Judge
Henderson District Court 29B
Kimberly G. Justice District Court
Judge
Henderson District Court 29B
Monica H. Leslie District Court
Judge
Haywood District Court 30
Kristina Lynn
Earwood
District Court
Judge
Haywood District Court 30
Donna Fay Forga District Court
Judge
Cherokee District Court 30
Tessa Shelton
Sellers
District Court
Judge
Clay District Court 30
Wendy Smallwood Hazelton District Court
Judge
Pitt District Court 3A
Karen A. Alexander District Court
Judge
Craven District Court 3B
Sarah Patterson
Bailey 
Emergency Judge Wake District Court Emergency Judge
Linda L. Falls Emergency Judge Wake District Court Emergency Judge
Sherry F. Alloway Emergency Judge Wake District Court Emergency Judge
Patricia G. Hilburn Emergency Judge Wake District Court Emergency Judge
Jane V. Harper Emergency Judge Wake District Court Emergency Judge
Jacqueline L.
Brewer
Emergency Judge Wake District Court Emergency Judge
Anna Elizabeth
Keever
Emergency Judge Wake District Court Emergency Judge
Margaret L. Sharpe Emergency Judge Wake District Court Emergency Judge
Nancy E. Gordon Emergency Judge Wake District Court Emergency Judge
Joyce A. Hamilton Emergency Judge Wake District Court Emergency Judge
Shelly S. Holt Emergency Judge Wake District Court Emergency Judge
Shelley H.
Desvousges
Emergency Judge Wake District Court Emergency Judge
Rebecca W.
Blackmore
Emergency Judge Robeson District Court Emergency Judge
Nancy Crocker
Phillips
Emergency Judge Columbus District Court Emergency Judge
Anne B. Salisbury Emergency Judge Wake District Court Emergency Judge

Learn more about the women who have served on the Supreme Court of North Carolina and the North Carolina Court of Appeals by visiting the North Carolina Supreme Court Historical Society online.

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