Local attorneys, friends, family, and local judges gathered in the courtroom of the Alamance County Historic Court House Friday afternoon for the swearing in of Clifton Douglas “Doug” Green as the county’s newest district court judge.
Green was named three weeks ago by Governor Roy Cooper to serve out the remaining term (through the November election) of former district court judge Rick Champion who was appointed in December as the county’s first public defender.
A Democrat like Cooper, Green had previously run for the same district court judgeship in 2020 – only to lose out to Champion, a Republican, in that year’s general election.
Green is already on the November ballot for the full, four-year term; Green faces Republican attorney and current county commissioner Craig Turner.
In the course of brief remarks after the swearing in, Green noted that Turner had been the second person to call him with congratulations. Both worked together several years in their early careers as assistant district attorneys.
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Photos from Doug Green’s swearing in ceremony, Friday, March 1, 2024:
Senior resident superior court judge Tom Lambeth administered the oath of office as Green’s wife, Jules, held his Bible. Chief district court judge Kathryn Whitaker “Katie” Overby presided. Local attorney Keisha Bluford, who doubles as a local pastor, gave the invocation.
Green is a 1983 graduate of Williams High School where he was a wide receiver; he then attended and played football at Duke University, as well.
Green gave thanks and acknowledgements to his parents, now deceased, as well as two uncles – Tony Williams and Harold Williams – who were present, as well as his brother, Ron Green, who had flown in from New Orleans for the ceremony.
He also credited his “church family,” mentioning having grown up at First Baptist Church Apple Street in Burlington and now at Grace Outreach Ministry in Mebane.
Before his appointment, Green had worked as an attorney with the Smith Giles law firm in Graham, and more recently, as an Assistant Attorney General in the North Carolina Department of Justice.
