Stein fills two vacancies on District Court bench

Appointments by Gov. Josh Stein have filled two seats on the District Court bench.

Jennifer Wells was named to the bench in the 1st Judicial District, which covers Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Pasquotank and Perquimans counties, a news release from the governor’s office says.

She most recently served as an assistant public defender in the district.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts at Tulane University and her Juris Doctor from Campbell University School of Law.

Wells fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Edgar Barnes.

Cameron “Chip” Harrison was appointed to the District Court bench in the 38th Judicial District, which serves Gaston County, the release says.

Harrison also served as an assistant public defender in Gaston County, practiced with the Law Office of Aaron Bradshaw and was a business law instructor at Alamance Community College.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and his Juris Doctor at North Carolina Central University.

He fills the vacancy created when Judge Craig Collins was elected to the Superior Court.

“Given their experience and record as public defenders, I am proud to appoint Jennifer and Cameron to the district courts,” Stein said in the release. “They will be fair and hard-working jurists, and I look forward to their service.”