Governor Cooper Announces Four Judicial Appointments | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Release:

    RALEIGH: Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced four judicial appointments to Superior and District Courts across the state.

    "These appointees bring years of legal experience and knowledge to the bench," said Governor Cooper. "I'm confident that they will serve with dedication and fairness."

    Governor Cooper made the following appointments:

    The Hon. Reggie McKnight as Superior Court Judge in Judicial District 26E serving Mecklenburg County. Judge McKnight will fill the vacant seat created by the retirement of the Judge Donnie Hoover. Judge McKnight serves as the District Court Judge in Judicial District 26 serving Mecklenburg County. He is the Founding Owner of McKnight Law Firm, P.L.L.C. He previously practiced law at Browne, Flebotte, Wilson & Horn and at Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice. Judge McKnight earned his Bachelor of Arts at the University of South Carolina and his Juris Doctor at North Carolina Central University School of Law.

    Justin Minshew as District Court Judge in District 8A serving Greene, Lenoir and Wayne counties. Minshew will fill the vacant seat formerly held by Judge Ericka James. Minshew serves as a Clerk of Superior Court in Wayne County. Previously, he was a General Practice Attorney at Everett, Womble & Lawrence, LLP. He earned his Bachelor of Arts at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his Juris Doctor at North Carolina Central University School of Law.

    Dorothy Hairston Mitchell as District Court Judge in District 14 serving Durham County. Mitchell will fill the vacant seat formerly held by Judge Brian Wilks. Mitchell is a Clinical Associate Professor at the North Carolina Central University School of Law, the Legal Director at the Center for Child & Family Health, and serves as Court Appointed Appellate Counsel for the NC Office of the Parent Defender. She also teaches courses at Duke University Continuing Studies. Previously, she was an Assistant Public Defender at the Durham County Public Defender's Office and practiced law at the Law Office of Dorothy Hairston and at Tracy Hicks Barley & Associates. Mitchell earned her Bachelor of Arts at North Carolina Central University and her Juris Doctor at North Carolina Central University School of Law.

    Valene McMasters as District Court Judge in District 21 serving Forsyth County. McMasters will fill the vacant seat formerly held by Judge Denise Hartsfield. McMasters is the Managing Attorney at Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc. Previously, she was the Family Law Supervising Attorney at Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc. and an associate at Kilpatrick Stockton LLP. She earned her Bachelor of Arts at Cornell University and her Juris Doctor at Boston College Law School.


    Contact: Jordan Monaghan

    Phone: (919) 814-2100  •      Email: govpress@nc.gov