NC District Court Judge District 17

Bryan Norris

Incumbent Bryan Norris is putting his hat in the ring for the first of five seats of North Carolina’s District 17 Court Judge.

Though he currently serves in the position, Norris was initially appointed to the seat by state Gov. Roy Cooper in March 2024 after Judge Brad Allen retired amid alleged inappropriate actions in December 2023 at a Bar Association Christmas party. Thus, Norris seeks election for the first time in contention with district court candidate Bryan Ray.

Born in Alamance County as the son of a lawyer, Norris attended the University of North Carolina’s School of Law after graduating from Davidson College in Mecklenburg.

Though he began as a commercial litigator at Richard Norris — his father’s firm — Norris later served for seven years as a judicial law clerk with North Carolina’s Court of Appeals and North Carolina’s Supreme Court.

Norris said he’s running for judgeship in order to make a difference in the community.

“When this opportunity came up, I felt like I knew the law really well after seven years of appellate review and appellate work,” Norris said. “I got into the appellate world because I wanted to be in public service, and this was an opportunity for me to serve my home county and do it in a place where I had felt like I had been doing a lot of good. And if I could do that on the ground floor as a district court judge, I just wanted to do it.”

In the courtroom, Norris said he tries to embody five main principles: hard work, efficiency, equity, empathy and respect.

“It doesn't matter who you are, it doesn't matter how you're appearing before me, it doesn't matter why you're appearing before me,” Norris said. “In terms of compassion, equity and fairness, my big concern for everyone in my courtroom — and in every courtroom I preside over — is I want our courts to be a place where we are able to minimize harm in our communities and then maximize help for the people that need it.”

For first-time voters, Norris stressed the importance of electing an official that is close to the community.

“Local elections, down-ballot races matter. They're not high profile, they're not what the news shows are focused on, but the closer the government is to the voter, the more of an impact and the more responsive that government is to that individual,’” Norris said. “Who you vote into these offices really matters, because again, the closer the government is to you, the more responsive it is to your concerns and the more impacts it has on you on a daily basis.”

As a district court judge, Norris also said he uses the opportunity on the bench to first ask why his judgment may be wrong instead of why it may be right. By challenging his own perspective and continually self evaluating, Norris said he is grateful for the opportunity to serve the community.

“It's an incredible honor and an incredible privilege to serve my home county,” Norris said. “I'm reminded in a different way, every day, how important the job is. And I just feel blessed to do it and grateful to be able to do it. I just hope I can continue to do it.”

Bryan Ray

Bryan Ray is running for North Carolina’s District 17 court judge. Up against incumbent Bryan Norris, the two will compete for the first of five Alamance County district court seats this November.

Ray grew up in Burlington where he attended Williams High School before attending Coastal Carolina University in Myrtle Beach, transferring to the University of North Carolina, Greensboro and graduating from Elon Law school in 2013. 

He then interned with a local attorney Julian Doby in Graham, where Ray became a partner in 2016.

With a background in family law, Ray has served on Alamance County’s Board of Elections for six years, Juvenile Crime Prevention Council for three years, Teen Court for the past nine years and the Bar Association for the past 11 years.

“I have a wider range of experience,” Ray said. “I've been in every courtroom that a district court judge can be in and I've spent a lot of time in each one of those. I've had that personal experiences one-on-one with clients that a lot of people don't get, and so that's what sets me apart.”

Wanting the chance to serve his home county, Ray said he told himself he would wait until this seat was open to run for a judgeship. District Court Judge Brad Allen retired amid controversy in December 2023; Gov. Roy Cooper later appointed Norris to fill Allen’s seat in March 2024.

Ray said he can bring a unique perspective to the bench coupled with empathy and understanding.

“I have a unique perspective, because a lot of family law attorneys don't run,” Ray said. “I've never been divorced, but I've had the woman that's facing infidelity, and I've had the husband that's had serious drug problems or I've had the client that's had four DWIs and now realize they need to go to rehab. So I've sat on this side of the bench and know what they're personally going through, so I think I can now apply that to the other side of the bench.”

With many Elon students being eligible to vote for the first time this election cycle, Ray said he encourages young and first-time voters to be thorough in their research of candidates and simply exercise their right to vote.

“Do your own research. I grew up in a home where my mom was a Republican and my dad was a Democrat, so I didn't have it pounded into me one way or the other,” Ray said. “Make your own decisions on what you think is right.”

Larry Brown Jr.

Larry Brown Jr. is running for North Carolina’s District 17 Court Judge. Brown runs uncontested for Alamance County’s second out of five district judge seats.

Brown did not respond to Elon News Network’s requests for an interview.

Having graduated from North Carolina Central University School of Law, Brown currently serves on a district court seat for North Carolina’s District 15A — where he was appointed in 2017 and is serving his second term — which was redistricted to District 17. He is also the first Black District Court Judge in Alamance County, according to Branch.

Brown previously worked as an assistant district attorney with the Alamance County District Attorney’s Office, as well as an adjunct professor at Elon University School of Law.

Craig Turner

Alamance County Commissioner Craig Turner is campaigning for a seat as North Carolina’s District Court Judge. Turner faces off with incumbent Doug Green this November for the third of five seats in Alamance County’s District 17.

Former District Judge Rick Champion stepped down from this seat in 2023 to become Alamance County’s first public defender — leaving Green to fulfill the rest of the term and both candidates to seek election for the position for the first time.

As an Alamance County native, Turner said he lived in Alamance his whole life — apart from when he was active duty in the Navy. Having graduated from Williams High School in 1991, Turner went to the Naval Academy and graduated from Annapolis in 1995 before serving two tours in the Persian Gulf.

After returning home, Turner went to Elon’s School of Law where he graduated from in 2010. He  just recently got married to Julie Turner who serves as the principal at Turrentine Middle School — where they both attended.

Though this is his first time running for a judgeship, Turner said he is drawing from both his experience in litigation — having served as a law court to two business court judges and assistant district attorney in Alamance County — and his experience as a county commissioner.

“The way that I approach that is the way that I would approach the work on the bench, which is to be prepared for meetings, to treat everybody who is in front of you with respect, but to also ask hard questions when needed to get to the heart of a matter,” Turner said. “That's how I would approach that job from the temperament perspective — is being prepared, holding folks accountable, but also treating everybody with respect regardless of what you're there to do. And that's how I've tried to be as a commissioner.”

Turner also said his background in the Navy gives him a unique perspective.

“I'm prepared to be on the bench,” Turner said. “I think my legal practice has prepared me well for court, and so I think my background is important. I think two things are also important, and that's work ethic and temperament. If I'm lucky enough to get to the bench, I'm going to approach it with the work ethic of a military officer.”

For Elon students who may be eligible to vote for the first time and are not from Alamance County, Turner said he encourages voter turnout and emphasizes the importance of researching candidates.

“I would stress the importance of local elections, because it's so close to home,” Turner said. “And those decisions will be affecting Elon students while they're here and if they choose to remain in Alamance County. The huge headliners get all of the press, but really, you really can make an impact on local elections.”

Doug Green

Incumbent Doug Green seeks election to North Carolina’s District 17 Court. Appointed to the bench by Gov. Roy Cooper in February 2024, Green will face off against County Commissioner Craig Turner for the third out of five district court seats this November.

Former District Judge Rick Champion stepped down from this seat in 2023 to become Alamance County’s first public defender — leaving Green to fulfill the rest of the term and both candidates to seek election for the position for the first time.

As an Alamance County native, Green attended Duke University where he graduated in 1987 before getting his MBA from Elon’s Love School of Business here at Elon. He later attended North Carolina Central’s School of Law where he graduated from in 1998.

Green said he has been practicing law for over 25 years and is licensed to practice in both Florida and North Carolina. Green said he has a particular focus in youth advocacy and protecting victims of domestic violence.

“Being from this area, and seeing what an impact this particular platform has … we just need more resources,” Green said. “Judges on this level can be an advocate. And sometimes, if you look in the courtroom and if you can at least have an idea of what the pattern of abuse is, you are able to help those who are abused — even when they sometimes are not willing to help themselves.”

As a judge, Green also said he further advocates for mental health resources.

“I was from the old school, ‘Just pick your pants up, get up, get your pants on, and get going and you just deal with whatever comes.’ Being on the bench, I've changed in that thinking,” Green said.

According to Green, he believes in upholding the law first and foremost but plans to use his discretion as judge to help, encourage and support those who go through the criminal justice system. Freshly 59 years old, Green said he rules by empathy and understanding through his lived experiences.

“I've lived. I've hit rock bottom and know what it's like, and know what it's like to try and work your way up and work your way back. And that gives me a certain consciousness — a certain ability to identify with many of the people that come before me,” Green said. “Most of the time when people come to court, that's all they want to do, is just be heard.”

For first-time or young voters, Green said every vote counts.

“Do your research,” Green said. “If you can vote early, vote early. But just vote and encourage all your other friends to vote. Because it does matter.”

Having been in almost every courtroom in Alamance County, Green also said he takes pride in the community and aims to bring his experience and calmness into the courtroom.

“This is my home and I'm tired of having — when I turn on the news hearing bad things about Alamance County,” Green said. “This is about sometimes taking pride in our community, policing our community and if we want better for our children … just be active in your communities.”

Kathryn Overby

Incumbent Kathryn Overby seeks reelection for the fourth term in a row for a seat as North Carolina’s District 17 Court Judge. Overby runs uncontested for Alamance County’s fourth out of five district judge seats.

Overby completed her undergraduate degree in math at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill before attending Campbell University Law School. From there, she went to work in the Alamance County District Attorney’s Office where she was an assistant district attorney for 11 years.

First appointed to the bench in January 2011, Overby was the first and only female judge in Alamance County. Having been on the ballot in 2012, 2016, 2020 and now 2024, her only contested election took place in 2012.

“When I had a contested election … I had a really high rating from other lawyers that came before me as far as my integrity and my legal ability,” Overby said. “I think I bring something to the bench that only I can bring as a woman. I bring a mom's perspective, and I think that it's the fact that I haven't had any contested elections now in three cycles speaks a lot for the job that I'm doing.”

Overby was also named chief district court judge in December 2023 and has held the position since.

While her race is uncontested, Overby still encouraged Elon students to vote in their local elections.

“If you're a student and you’re registered to vote in the town of Elon, you have a town council that makes decisions about the town of Elon,” Overby said. “ I would say try to go and figure something out about those people. Know what's going on in your county.”

Meredith Tuck Edwards

Meredith Tuck Edwards serves as Alamance County Clerk of Superior Court and is running for Alamance County’s newest District 17 judgeship. Traditionally holding four district court seats, the state legislature approved a fifth district court judge seat effective Jan. 1, 2025, in order to spread out Alamance County’s case loads.

Edwards campaigns against Natalie Jones this November.

Edwards did not respond to Elon News Network’s requests for an interview.

According to previous Elon News Network coverage, Edwards earned her law degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 2007 and went on to work as a prosecutor in Alamance County for 10 years.

In response to her campaign for county clerk, Edwards said she tried to approach her role as a public official with empathy and compassion.

“No one ever comes to the clerk's office having a great day, right? It's always something really difficult in their lives,” Edwards previously told Elon News Network for her 2022 campaign. “We're responding with compassion. … I love being the clerk and I love the opportunities that it gives me to be able to advocate for better services for our citizens.”

Natalie Jones

Natalie Jones is one of two candidates for Alamance County’s newest District 17 judgeship. Traditionally holding four district court seats, the state legislature approved a fifth district court judge seat effective Jan. 1, 2025, in order to spread out Alamance County’s case loads.

Jones is campaigning against Meredith Tuck Edwards, who currently serves as Alamance County Clerk of Superior Court. 

Having practiced in Alamance County for 22 years, Jones said she began her work in the community in October 2002 and has experience in every courtroom that exists in Alamance County. Jones is also a U.S. Navy veteran.

“I’m the most suited candidate for this position because I have practical, legal experience,” Jones said. “As a judge, I could fill right into the role, step right into the role, because I’ve basically seen it and done it for 22 years.”

With varied experience in Superior Court doing jury trials; criminal court working abuse, neglect and child support cases; and civil court representing both the defense and plaintiff, Jones said her work ethic and background set her apart.

“I've been known among my colleagues, defense attorneys and prosecutors to just really be available and make no excuse,” Jones said.“When it's time to have a trial, I buckle down and get ready. You don't ever find that I shy away from any hard work.”

As a single parent, Jones asked Elon students and local voters to strongly consider voting for her but emphasized the importance of voting regardless. 

“First-time voters, we want to thank you for getting involved. Voting is very important, and we just want to thank you for not sitting by the waistline or just waiting to see what's happening,” Jones said. “For all voters, get involved, know what you're voting and know what you're doing. Make your vote matter.”