Cooper appoints 6 to fill judicial vacancies

Gov. Roy Cooper announced six judicial appointments May 18 to fill vacancies left when judges retired or left to fill other court vacancies.

Cooper appointed Judge William Wood to fill an opening in the Guilford County Superior Court, along with five new district court judges: Keith Mason, Sophia Gatewood Crawford, Marcus Shields, Faith Fickling and Roy Wiggins.

“Superior and district court judges are so important to our justice system and hear cases critical to their communities every day,” Cooper said in a statement. “These appointees bring strong experience to the bench and I believe they will serve the people of our state well.”

Wood was appointed in District 18D to replace Judge Lindsay Davis who retired earlier this year.

Wood previously served as an Assistant District Attorney in Guilford County for nearly 30 years. While there, he specialized in prosecuting violent crimes. He holds degrees from Lenoir-Rhyne University and North Carolina Central School of Law.

Cooper appointed Mason as a 2nd District Court Judge, serving Beaufort, Hyde, Martin, Tyrell and Washington counties. He replaces Chief District Court Judge Michael Paul who retired earlier in the year.

He previously served as an attorney in private practice for over 25 years, and as an Assistant District Attorney in District 2. He holds undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Crawford was selected to serve as a 16A District Court judge, which encompasses Anson, Richmond, Scotland and Hoke counties. She replaces Judge Lisa Thacker who retired earlier in the year.

Crawford previously worked as a trial attorney in private practice for 17 years and as a Senior Assistant District Attorney for the 20th District. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law.

Shields was chosen to serve District 18, also in Guilford County. He will be taking the place of Judge Avery Crump who retired earlier in the year.

Shields previously worked as an attorney in private practice, as an attorney for North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services and as an Assistant Public Defender in the 18th Judicial District. He also has worked as an adjunct law professor at the Elon University law school. He holds degrees from the University of South Carolina at Columbia and North Carolina Central School of Law.

Fickling will fill the vacancy left by Judge Donnie Hoover who moved to a new position as a Superior Court Judge in District 26A in Mecklenburg County. Fickling will be a district court judge in District 26, also located in Mecklenburg.

Fickling previously served as an attorney at Legal Aid of North Carolina for nearly 12 years and as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Madagascar. She has an undergraduate degree from American University and a law degree from Syracuse University School of Law.

Wiggins replaces Judge Karen Eady-Williams who accepted a Superior Court judge position also in District 26A. Wiggins will also serve in District 26.

He previously served as an attorney in private practice for over 20 years and as an Assistant District Attorney in Judicial District 26. He has an undergraduate degree from East Carolina University and a law degree from Campbell University School of Law.