Standing Firm: Character of a District Court Judge | Eastern NC Now

    The other week, I announced my candidacy on this platform for District Court Judge in Judicial District Two which encompasses Beaufort, Hyde, Martin, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties. My goal is to reach as many people personally as possible, but that may be a hard feat to accomplish personally prior to the March 2026 Republican Primary. I am writing here to share some of my personal background and why my unique lived in personal experience is the right choice for our judicial district. I would like you to hear about how I grew up and why that perspective has shaped me into the best candidate for District Court Judge.

    I grew up in rural Beaufort County in a small trailer at the end of the Kelly Road. Growing up, I had to work for everything I got, so at 14 years old, I decided to get a job. My Aunt Debbie owned the Crab Ranch and gave me a job shedding soft crabs. It was the night shift, so I worked 7 PM to 7 AM every night over the summer. I worked that job two summers in a row, and was able to purchase my first car by myself. It was a 1994 Red Dodge Shadow. I got a job at the local Pizza Inn in Washington as a hostess to help pay for gas and insurance when I turned 16 years old. At 16 years old, I also decided to move out of my home. That didn't come easy. My parents suffered from substance abuse and had issues of domestic violence. I needed to move out. So, I rented a room from a trailer on Lizard Slip road for $200 a month. I still drove myself to school each day to Northside High School and worked at the Pizza Inn. I moved up to a waitress position to help make ends meet and make some more money to provide for myself. My parents struggled to support themselves and were not able to help me. I ended up choosing to graduate early at 17 years old from high school so I could work full time to save up for college. I started at Pitt Community College the following year. I earned my paralegal degree there. I aspired to become a lawyer, but I was really unsure if that was in the cards for me. I thought becoming a paralegal was more within my reach. At 19 years old, I graduated from Pitt Community College, but I was inexperienced and unable to find work. This was also a sign of the current economy then as well. I thought about my far-fetched dream of becoming a lawyer and I went for it. I enrolled at East Carolina University and graduated with a bachelor's degree and headed off to law school in Florida. I came back home after graduating law school, terribly home sick, and was happy to be back at home. I passed the bar exam on my first try and immediately got a job in private practice, later becoming an assistant public defender, and then moving on to a prosecutor role in our judicial district in 2018. In 2023, I went on to achieve the title of a Board-Certified Specialist in State Criminal Law and I am the only one residing in our judicial district that holds that title.

    In between all that, I met my husband and we got married in 2016. My husband was a small business owner for 20 years and now works at PS Jones as a 7th grade English teacher. I've helped raise my stepson Thomas (17), since he was five years old. We also have two other children together named Upton (8) and Sutherland (4).

    My life experience has created a person of true grit and determination who stands firm. I have a distinct background that makes me uniquely qualified to serve as your next District Court Judge. Our judicial district currently has four District Court Judges, three of these judges are men. Judge Regina Parker, the incumbent, is the only female District Court Judge and she is vacating her seat. What does this mean? The perspective of a female, wife, and mother is an important one that will cease to exist on the District Court bench. Not only do I have the extensive legal knowledge to serve as a District Court Judge, but will also be able to continue the important perspective of a female, wife, and mother. I will be a judge who is firm but fair, follows the law, and understands the people using common sense leadership. I can draw from my personal life experiences and my extensive training and expertise to always do what is right.

    Vote Jarvis for Judge on March 3rd, 2026 in the Republican Primary.

    Visit www.jarvisforjudge.com for more information on my campaign.