Greene, Lenoir and Wayne county, district 14, staff, officials, District Court Judges
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District Court Judges are attorneys who are elected for each district in non-partisan elections for four years and must reside in the district in which they are elected. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina designates one of the judges as Chief District Court Judge, and this judge has administrative duties, including assigning the judges to sessions of court.
Both civil and criminal cases are heard in District Court. Generally, the District Court is the proper division for cases involving amounts in controversy of $10,000 or less. Domestic relations cases involving alimony, child support, child custody, divorce, equitable distribution, and juvenile matters are also heard in this court. In criminal cases, District Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over misdemeanor cases and most traffic offenses.
The Honorable David B. Brantley has served as a District Court Judge since 1996 to present. Judge Brantley has been certified to hear juvenile matters. Prior to being elected as a District Court Judge, he served as the Clerk of Superior Court for Wayne County from 1984 to 1996. Judge Brantley received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University in 1974 and his Juris Doctorate degree from Wake Forest University in 1977.
The Honorable Lonnie W. Carraway has served as a District Court Judge since April 2000. Judge Carraway received his Bachelor of Science degree from East Carolina University in 1977; his Master of Business Administration from East Carolina University in 1979; and his Juris Doctorate from North Carolina Central University in 1983. Prior to being elected as a District Court Judge, Judge Carraway was a practicing attorney and a certified public accountant from 1983 to 2000.
The Honorable Timothy I. Finan has served as a District Court Judge since February 23, 2007. Judge Finan received his Bachelor of History degree from NC State University in 1974 and his Juris Doctorate from UNC Chapel Hill in 1977. Prior to becoming a District Court Judge, Judge Finan was a partner in the law firm of Everett, Womble, Finan, Lawrence & Brown, LLP, in Goldsboro, NC. from 1981 - 2007.
The Honorable Charles P. Gaylor, III was elected as a District Court Judge in November 2008 and was sworn-in January 2009. He received his double AB degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1971 and his Juris Doctorate degree from Widener University in 1975. Prior to becoming a District Court Judge, he practiced law in Goldsboro for 31 years.
The Honorable Elizabeth A. Heath has served as a District Court Judge since December 2002. Judge Heath received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1982, and her Juris Doctorate from Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law in 1991. Prior to being elected as a District Court Judge, Judge Heath was a partner in the law firm of Wallace, Morris and Barwick from 1991 until November 2002.
The Honorable R. Les Turner has served as a District Court Judge since August 2000. Judge Turner received his Bachelor of Science degree from East Carolina University in 1985 and his Juris Doctorate from Campbell Law School in 1994. Prior to being elected as a District Court Judge, Judge Turner served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Eighth Prosecutorial District from 1995 to 2000, and he was in private practice prior to serving in the District Attorney's office.
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