RALEIGH — Judge Judith Daniels is the new chief District Court for Robeson County.
State Supreme Court Justice Mark Martin appointed Daniels to the Judicial District 16B leadership role effective July 6. Daniels replaced Judge J. Stanley Carmical, who assumed his duties as special Superior Court judge on July 9.
“I am confident that Judge Daniels will provide the strong leadership necessary for the successful administration of the district courts in District 16B,” Martin said. “She has served with distinction as District Court judge.”
Daniels, a Robeson County native who lives in Lumberton, said Thursday she is honored and awed at being given a “tremendous responsibility.”
“I agreed to accept it if I was appointed,” she said. “I thank the chief justice of the Supreme Court, Mark Martin. I want to thank the voters who put me in this position in the first place.”
Judge Daniels took the oath of office in 2009 and became the second female to serve as a judge in Robeson County. Before taking the bench, she served as assistant district attorney for 21 years, 16 in Robeson County. She also served as assistant district attorney in what was at the time Judicial District 20, which included Anson, Moore, Richmond, Stanly, and Union counties.
Daniels graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in Political Science. She graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1984.
“I do look forward to continuing to serve the people of the county and the state,” Daniels said.
Carmical, who had served on the bench in Robeson County since 1989, was nominated for the post of special Superior Court judge by Gov. Roy Cooper on May 23 to fill a vacancy created as a result of the expiration of the term of Judge Ebern “Tripp” Watson III on May 5. The resolution approving his nomination was approved by the state Legislature on June 28 and ratified on June 29. Cooper issued Carmical’s commission that same day.
