Candidate Statement:

I have been serving as a district court trial judge in Wake County for 19 years, and I am running for the North Carolina Court of Appeals in 2026.

As the most experienced district court judge in Wake County, I have worked hard to safeguard the fundamental rights and liberties of those who appeared in my courtroom with well-reasoned, swift, and nonpartisan decisions.

I am running for the Court of Appeals because I am increasingly concerned about the public's loss of confidence in the court system, a cornerstone of our democracy. My campaign will offer voters an experienced, temperate, and principled candidate dedicated to the rule of law. As a trial judge, I was nominated by four chief district court judges (Democrat and Republican) to serve in leadership positions, including Lead Judge in Family Court for many years, and currently as Lead Judge in the general civil court.

Prior to my service as a judge, I practiced law in Raleigh with Grafstein & Walczyk, P.L.L.C., representing small businesses with their transactional and litigation needs. I also represented indigent defendants in criminal cases and juveniles in delinquency matters.