Resident Superior Court Judges are attorneys who are elected for each district in non-partisan elections for eight-year terms. Regular superior court judges must reside in the district in which they are elected, but rotate from one district to another within their division. The resident judges in Durham hold court on a regular basis in eleven counties (Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake, and Warren) and across the state as needed.
Special and emergency judges may also be assigned to particular judicial districts by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. The Senior Resident Superior Court Judge has the most seniority of the superior court judges in the district and is responsible for carrying out various administrative duties.
The Superior Court has jurisdiction in both civil and criminal cases. Generally, civil cases involving more than $10,000 in money and a few special categories of cases, such as those involving appeals from administrative agencies and constitutional issues, are tried in Superior Court. In criminal cases, the Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over all felonies and over misdemeanors appealed from a conviction in District Court.
The Honorable Orlando F. Hudson, Jr. is the Senior Resident Superior Court Judge. Judge Hudson received his Doctor of Juris Prudence from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1989 he became a Superior Court Judge serving until 1995 when he became the 14th Judicial District's senior resident judge. Prior to serving on the Superior Court bench, Judge Hudson served as a District Court Judge for five years, an Assistant District Attorney in Durham, an Assistant Public Defender in Fayetteville, and practiced law for two years with a private firm.
Other Superior Court Judges in order of seniority include:
The Honorable A. Leon Stanback, Jr.
Judge Stanback received his Juris Doctorate from North Carolina Central University School of Law. He was appointed as a Superior Court Judge in 1989. Prior to serving on the Superior Court bench, Judge Stanback served as Parole Commissioner with the North Carolina Parole Commission, practiced law with his private firm of Stanback & Stanback and served as an Assistant District Attorney for Guilford County.
The Honorable Ronald L. Stephens
Judge Stephens received his Juris Doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was appointed special Superior Court Judge in 1994 before being elected in 1995. Prior to serving on the Superior Court bench, Judge Stephens served as the District Attorney of Durham County, practiced law with his private firm of Pulley, Wainio, Stephens & Lambe, and also served as an U. S. Army Helicopter Pilot during the Vietnam War.
The Honorable Kenneth C. Titus
Judge Titus received his Juris Doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was elected as a Superior Court Judge in November 2002. Prior to serving on the Superior Court bench, Judge Titus served as a District Court Judge and also served as Chief District Court Judge. Prior to serving on the bench, Judge Titus practiced law for several years in Durham.
Special Superior Courts Judges in Durham:
The Honorable James E. Hardin, Jr.
Judge Harding received his Juris Doctorate from Mercer University School of Law in Georgia. He was appointed special Superior Court Judge in 2005 by Governor Michael Easley. Prior to serving on the Superior Court bench, Judge Hardin served as the District Attorney for Durham.
For additional information or to direct correspondence, you may contact:
Peggy Bullock
Superior Court Judicial Assistant
201 East Main Street
Durham, North Carolina 27701
Phone: 919-564-7230
Fax: 919-560-5414