Governor McCrory Announces Judicial Appointment | Eastern North Carolina Now

 Raleigh, N.C.     Governor Pat McCrory has selected Beth Freshwater Smith of Wilson to fill a vacant district court seat in the 7th District (Nash, Edgecombe and Wilson counties). The vacancy was created by the resignation of Judge William G. Stewart. Smith will serve the remainder of Judge Stewart's term, which runs through December 31, 2016.

 Smith is currently the Senior Assistant District Attorney for the 7th District, where she has worked as a prosecutor since 1987. She has served as a lead prosecutor in Nash County and has prosecuted felony cases, including capital murder, in Wilson, Nash and Edgecombe Superior Courts. She is responsible for all juvenile and undisciplined proceedings in the district. She also serves as the liason between the district and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina for drug and gun cases.

 She has served on the instructional panel at the North Carolina Judicial College assisting North Carolina judges in understanding juvenile law and its practical application. She has taught in various areas of the law for the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys, Wilson Community College, Barton College and various law enforcement agencies.

 She is a member of the National Juvenile Prosecutors Network and is one of fourteen juvenile prosecutors chosen from across the United States to address juvenile law concerns nationwide.

 Smith was awarded the North Carolina Public Service Practitioner Award in 2013 and the Barton College Criminal Justice Society Award in 2012.

 Smith serves on the Camp Albermarle Board of Directors, Wesley Shelter Executive Board, Wilson Chamber of Commerce Public Safety Board, and the Arts Council of Wilson.

 Smith received her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies and Political Science from UNC Chapel Hill in 1981 and her Juris Doctor from Campbell University School of Law in 1986.

• Contact:
•  Crystal Feldman
•  govpress@nc.gov