Sunday, December 10, 2023

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N.C. Supreme Court chief justice visits

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North Carolina supreme court chief justice Paul Newby visited Alamance County Friday afternoon, part of the justice’s plan to visit courthouses across all 100 counties in the state.

Newby arrived after having been to courthouses in High Point and Greensboro in Guilford County.

Newby was welcomed by top judicial officials, as well as local politicians.

Among those present were Alamance County’s superior court judges Tom Lambeth and Andy Hanford and district court judge Larry Brown, who gave a prayer to open the courtroom session; sheriff Terry Johnson; district attorney Sean Boone; state representatives Dennis Riddell and Ricky Hurtado, as well as the man Hurtado beat last year, former state representative Steve Ross; county commissioner chairman John Paisley and fellow commissioner Craig Turner, both attorneys; Graham city council member Jennifer Talley; and clerk of court Meredith Edwards.

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Alamance County’s senior resident superior court judge Tom Lambeth.
Alamance County clerk of court Meredith Edwards.
District court judge Larry Brown, who opened the chief justice’s visit with a prayer.
North Carolina state supreme court chief justice Paul Newby with Alamance County commissioner chairman John Paisley (left) and senior resident superior court judge Tom Lambeth (right).
North Carolina supreme court chief justice Paul Newby and Graham city council member Jennifer Talley share a light moment as Newby arrives at the Alamance County Historic Court House on Court Square in Graham.

Newby spoke to several dozen deputy and assistant clerks, attorneys, and others in the courtroom in the Historic Court House, thanking all for their commitment to serving the public even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

North Carolina state supreme court chief justice Paul Newby with Alamance County clerk of court Meredith Edwards and other deputy and assistant clerks within her office.

Newby was joined by his wife, Macon, and two members of his supreme court staff, including Alamance County native and legal counsel Ragan Oakley, daughter of Tim and Stacy Riddle of Burlington.

North Carolina state supreme court chief justice Paul Newby with Alamance County native and his legal counsel Ragan Oakley.
North Carolina state supreme court chief justice Paul Newby and his wife Macon outside Alamance County Historic Court House Friday afternoon after Newby’s visit with judicial officials.

After his remarks and greeting those who had attended, Newby also strolled along West Elm Street with clerk of court Meredith Edwards, who pointed out the county’s other judicial facilities: the Civil Courts Building, as well as the Judge J.B. Allen, Jr. Court House.

Before he left, Newby addressed a question on whether a vaccination mandate should be imposed on judicial employees in the state.  Newby said he preferred to leave those decisions to the top judicial officials in each county.

“What’s best for Alamance County is left to the Alamance County local officials as they collaborate among the elected folks who answer to ‘we the people,'” listing specifically the clerk of court, local judges, the sheriff, and district attorney as well as in collaboration with the local bar.

Hear more of his response below:

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