Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/742437
28 OCTOBER 26 - NOVEMBER 1, 2016 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Abraham Penn Jones UCW: What are your qualifications to serve in the Court System? While there is an abundance of legal talent in our state, I believe it would be dif- ficult to find a candidate with the extent of my experience. A balanced tempera- ment, respect for the law, and a desire to research issues when answers are not obvious in the law as it is written are important qualities in a Court of Appeals judge and qualities I possess. Our laws must constantly adapt to an ever-changing society. Due to these changes, one has to remain flexible in their perspective, but firm in their ap- proach. I am uniquely qualified for this position because I have such a varied legal perspective, which makes me more suited to legal impartiality. In addition to 17 years as a Superior Court judge, I've worked with the Attorney General's Office, the Office of Administrative Hearings, the U.S. Attor- ney's Office as well as in private practice. I've been a prosecutor as well as a defense attorney. I've tried and judged both criminal and civil cases. I've argued in both State and Federal Court, and I've been both before and behind the bench. The NC Court of Appeals is responsible for reviewing the decisions of other trial judges and hearing officers, yet only three judges out of fifteen have prior experi- ence as trial judges. This is important because the vast majority of cases heard by the NC Court of Appeals begin in trial courts. The diversity of my experience is a strength of my candida- cy as well as my skills as a researcher and a writer. Respect for everyone coming before the court, regardless of race, ethnicity, economic class, education, etc. is important to me as well as everyone's right to a fair hearing. I would be honored to earn your vote. Please go to www.voteabejones.com to read more about my qualifications and background. Richard Donald Dietz Vince Miller Rozier Jr. UCW: What are your qualifications to serve in the Court System? My career, community, and life experiences have allowed me to have an un- derstanding of the need to be fair and impartial and how to achieve these goals. From my time as a judge, prosecutor, and even as a citizen, I have observed and interacted with countless numbers of people who have helped me to understand their varied perspectives and lifestyles. I believe this exposure would support my reputation and ability to be fair, impartial, and effective. As a Wake County District Court Judge, I have been scored pursuant to the NC Bar Judicial Performance Evaluation. This evaluation allowed for attorneys to rate the performance of judges who they practiced before or were familiar with their reputation for fairness. I have consistently been rated as being one of the most fair and impartial judges in Wake County. This score reflects the general reputation that I have as working to be reasonable in being effective but consis- tent in trying to be fair or according to the law. My work as a judge and prosecutor have exposed me the situations various and life circumstances that many of the people who are involved in the court system. As a judge, I have actively supported rival gang members to call a truce amongst one another. I have gone to the scene of an officer involved shooting and spoken to both the police and the community to encourage understanding. I have worked to achieve fair- ness for students by helping to create a deferral program so that our county's youth can have consequences without permanent impact. Additionally, while serving as a prosecutor, I worked with police to reduce drug crimes and rode along with them during drug busts and undercover drug buys. I also rode along with the State Highway Patrol while looking for impaired drivers. Meanwhile, I also experienced what it was like to be stopped and subjected to interrogation for no legal reason. This is in addition to the what I learned during the period that my wife worked as a criminal defense attorney. I have taken this professional experience to go into the community, to schools and churches in an effort to help people understand how our system works. These efforts have only allowed me to understand how to engage people of dif- ferent backgrounds and how important it is that the law be fairly applied to all. Valerie Johnson Zachary UCW: What are your qualifications to serve in the Court System? Education: Harvard Law School, JD cum laude, 1987; Michigan State Univer- sity, BA with honors, 1984 Legal Experience: Judge, NC Court of Appeals, General Practice, Zachary Law Offices, Yadkinville, NC; Litigation Team, Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman (now K&L Gates), Charlotte, NC; and Research Assistant, Professor Laurence H. Tribe, Cambridge, MA. A Court of Appeals judge must be fair, thoughtful, and a hard worker. The cases demand painstaking attention to detail and analysis, as well as a devotion to the correct application of the law. The workload of the Court requires my consistent, diligent effort. Moreover, I strive to be fair by applying the law in an unbiased, even-handed manner. My wide variety of legal and personal experiences gives me a different perspective. My legal experience ranged from federal retirement law, to elder law, to estates and trusts, to adoptions, and to receiverships, among other areas. I worked as a research assistant for Professor Laurence Tribe, as a member of Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, and on the litigation team at Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman (now K & L Gates). I also practiced for 26 years in Yadkin County. I have authored opinions on a varied as- sortment of subjects, from juvenile, domestic, and criminal cases to opinions that analyzed the intricate interplay between federal and state law in Medicaid matters, reviewed governmental impact fees, and assessed complex business matters, among other issues. The appellate opinions that I have authored are available at nccourts.org. Rickye Mckoy Mitchell N.C. District Court Judge Judge Lou Olivera UCW: What are your qualifications to serve in the Court System? Judge Lou Olivera has been an attorney for more than 16 years. During that time, he has served as a Prosecutor in the Cumberland County District Attorney's Office, in private practice with Godwin & Olivera, PC and as the past 4 years as 1 of 10 District Court Judges here in Cumberland County. Both prior to being elected one of your judges and during that tenure, he has practiced and presided in all areas of District Court to include Criminal, Civil and Juvenile. Additionally, Judge Olivera has presided over our treatment courts to include being the presid- ing Judge over the Cumberland County Veterans Treatment Court. Prior to becoming an attorney, he has served in the United States Army for over 8 years to include combat deployment during Operation Desert Storm and Shield in Southwest Asia. Lou was honorably discharged a Coun- terintelligence Special Agent and afterwards attended college at University of NC at Pembroke. As I remained here in Cumberland County, I stayed active in the com- munity being part of such organizations as The United Way, The Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County, The March of Dimes, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Public Works Commission and other organizations. Judge Olivera has taught Legal and Law classes as an Adjunct Professor with Methodist College and with Fayetteville Technical Community College. He was a fellow with the North Carolina Institute of Political Leadership and Class Leader of Leadership Fayetteville. Furthermore, Judge Olivera was awarded Volunteer of the Year with the Hispanic/Latino Center, one of ""20 under 40" Making a Dif- ference in Our Community", and the "Exemplary and Meritorious Award" by the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Lou currently serves as the Vice President of the North Carolina Bar Associa- tion and on its Military and Veteran Section as one of the founding members. He is married to Kimberly who is a kindergarten teacher and they have 3 won- derful children. N.C. District Court Judge Tiffany Whitfield UCW: What are your qualifications to serve in the Court System? Currently I serve the citizens of Cumberland County as a prosecutor with the District Attorney Office in the 12th Judicial District. I have prior experience as a defense attorney, and a family law attorney. I have trial experience with numerous cases in both District and Superior Court. Having a diverse background in the law means I have personally practiced in virtually every type of courtroom a District Court Judge can preside over. My passion through out the years has always been advocat- ing for our children, and working with families. When I see cases I don't just see words on paper, I see families that will personally be affected by the decision made. That is only motivation I need to take my time and seek