Active license to practice in North Carolina since 2004

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

State of North Carolina – Judicial District 26, Charlotte, NC

District Court Judge, January 2011 – 2018; March 2019 - present after being appointed by Governor Roy Cooper

• NC Governor's Crime Commission - Juvenile Justice Planning Subcommittee, Children's Justice Act Subcommittee,  Disproportionate Minority Contact Subcommittee

• Juvenile Court Certified Judge – Completed coursework on child development, basic substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, and abuse, neglect and dependency matters; presided over at least 100 juvenile hearings.

• Lead Judge, Juvenile Court Judges (2014)

• DWI Recovery Court program judge (2019-present)

• Youth Recovery Court program judge (2016-2018)

• Families in Recovery Staying Together (F.I.R.S.T.) Recovery Court program judge (2014-2016)

• Truancy Court Judge – Albemarle Road Middle School (2011-2018)

• Experience presiding all district court matters: domestic, domestic violence, child support enforcement, criminal, civil, juvenile and involuntary commitment matters

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Powers McCartan, PLLC (Formerly Bush & Powers), Charlotte, NC

Associate Attorney, April 2007 – June 2010

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State of North Carolina 26th Judicial District, Charlotte, NC

Assistant Public Defender, November 2004 – April 2007; June 2010 – December 2010

• UNC School of Government Trial Defender’s School

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4TH Dimension Management, Philadelphia, PA / Charlotte, NC

Volunteer, April 2004 – May 2005

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Law Office of Donald R. Cureton, Jr., Charlotte, NC

Attorney/Solo Practitioner, May 2004 – November 2004

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Black Entertainment Television, Inc., Washington, DC

Law Clerk, Summer 2002

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EDUCATION

Howard University School of Law, Washington, DC

Juris Doctor, May 2003

• Honors: Merit Scholarship for Academic Achievement; Founders Scholarship, Black Entertainment & Sports lawyers Association (BESLA)

 

Winston–Salem State University, Winston–Salem, NC

B.A., cum laude in Political Science, Concentration in Public Administration, May 2000

• Honors: Dean’s List, Chancellor Scholarship, WSSU National Alumni Scholarship

• Activities: Student Government Association – Secretary of Judicial Affairs; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – Chapter President; Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society; Men’s Basketball Team (Red-Shirt Freshman)
   

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT/PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

 

Member

• National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ)

• National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP)

• North Carolina Association of District Court Judges

• North Carolina State Bar

• North Carolina Bar Association

• Mecklenburg County Bar Association

• John S. Leary Bar Association for Black Lawyers

• North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers (2007-2010)

• American Bar Association (2004-2007)

• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity - Beta Nu Lambda Chapter 

 

Board Member

• Be More Foundation - Vice President

• Lydia Smith Sickle Cell Foundation 

• NC Bar Association BarCARES (2012-2014)

• Larry King’s Clubhouse, Mecklenburg County Courthouse daycare (2009-2014)

• John S. Leary Bar Association for Black Lawyers (2009-2012)

• Caring Arms Youth and Family Services, Inc. (2007)

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Committees

• Juvenile Justice Partnership

• Model Courts

• Juvenile Justice Subcommittee (Chairperson 2014)

• Mecklenburg County Bar Diversity and Inclusion Committee

  • Pipeline Programming Subcommittee

• Mecklenburg County Bar Professional and Lawyer Life Committee

• Mecklenburg County Bar Juvenile Law Section 2014 Annual Conference Planning Committee

• Race Matters for Juvenile Justice (RMJJ) Leadership Team (Executive Committee member 2019-2021)

• Raise the Age Planning Committee

• Mecklenburg County Fatherhood Task Force Initiative

• Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Strategic Planning Subcommittee

 

Volunteer

• Garinger High School Alumni Wildcat Mentorship Project

• Freedom School at The Grove Presbyterian Church – Book Reader 

• Mecklenburg County Bar Lunch with a Lawyer Program 

• Guardian Ad-Litem Foundation Charity Basketball Game 

• Citizen Schools Mentorship Program

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools A.V.I.D. Program

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Selected Participant

• Community Building Initiative (CBI) Leadership Development Initiative Class 16

• Community Building Initiative (CBI) ‘Leaders Under 40’ Program Class 2

• Mecklenburg County Bar Leadership Institute 

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Speaking Engagements

• The Reach Out Diversion Program

• CMPD Envision Academy

• NCBA "Raise the Age: A New Era for Juvenile Justice in North Carolina" - Panelist 

• Law Day 2018 -  "A Separation of Powers: A Framework of Freedom"

• Turning Point Academy 

• Council for Children's Rights "A Night for Children's Rights" 

• Race & Justice - Panelist 

• Queen’s University - “Where We Are and Where Are We Going” - Panelist

• North Carolina Central University School of Education: "Let's Talk Racism - Recognizing, Resisting, and Revising"

• Indigent Representation in Non-Capital Criminal Cases, NC 26th Judicial District Defender Orientation - Panelist 

• National Adoption Day - Mecklenburg County

• Howard University School of Law ‘Introduction to Legal Careers’ – Panelist 

• Mecklenburg County Bar Leadership Institute – Public Interest Panelist 

• Kaplan College – Commencement Speaker 

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Performance Learning Center – Co-Commencement Speaker 

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Performance Learning Center – Career Day 

• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Charlotte Alumnae Chapter – ‘May Week Celebration’ Master of Ceremonies 

• Boys to Men Foundation 

• National Forum of Black Public Administrators Southern Piedmont Chapter – Panelist 

• CBI Leaders Under 40 Program ‘Connecting with Elected Officials’ – Panelist 

• Mecklenburg County Bar Juvenile Law Section ‘Introduction to Juvenile Courts’ – Panelist 

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Stoney Creek Elementary School, Highlight Society Group 

• Charlotte School of Law town hall with elected officials – Panelist 

• North Carolina Foster and Adoptive Parents Association 14th Annual Training Conference – Panelist 

• NC Lawyers Weekly Runway Recess – Panelist, Model 

• Mecklenburg County Bar Diversity Day – Panelist 

• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Beta Nu Lambda Chapter – Founder’s Day guest speaker 

• Mecklenburg County Public Defenders Conference 

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Midwood High School

• Mecklenburg County Bar 2022 Law Day Luncheon Panelist 

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Recognitions

• Teen Health Connection - Dr. John G. Johnston Award for Excellence in Adolescent Medicine and Health (2017)

• Winston-Salem State University ’40 under 40’ award recipient (2013)

• Charlotte Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Ray A. Booten Scholarship Golf Classic – Honorary Captain (2011)