On Friday, December 3, 2021, Governor Roy Cooper announced the appointment of Justin L. Minshew as District Court Judge for the 8th Judicial District, to fill the seat formerly held by the Honorable Ericka James.
Justin Minshew currently serves as the Clerk of Superior Court in Wayne County, a position he has held since August 2018. Prior to serving as Clerk of Superior Court, Minshew was a general practice attorney with the law firm of Everett, Womble & Lawrence, LLP. Minshew earned his Bachelor of Arts at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his Juris Doctor at North Carolina Central University School of Law.
“It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Wayne County for the last three years as Clerk of Superior Court and to work alongside such a hardworking, dedicated, and professional staff within the clerk’s office,” said Minshew. “I would like to thank the district bar for their vote of confidence in selecting me as a one of the individuals to be submitted to the Governor for consideration to fill the vacancy and to Governor Cooper for appointing me to the judiciary. I look forward to fairly and impartially serving the citizens of Greene, Lenoir, and Wayne counties as their newest District Court Judge.”
Once Minshew takes the oath of office for District Court Judge, it will create a vacancy in the office of the Clerk of Superior Court. Senior Resident Superior Court Judge William W. Bland has announced that he will appoint Assistant Clerk Robin Aycock Radford to the office of Clerk of Superior Court to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term.
Radford began her career in the Office of the Wayne County Clerk of Superior Court in 2008 when she was appointed as a deputy clerk of court in the criminal division by the Honorable Pamela B. Minshew, Clerk of Superior Court (now retired). Five years later, Radford was promoted to the title of Assistant Clerk of Court, a position that she has maintained to the present time. Through her career in the clerk’s office, Radford has held multiple positions including but not limited to administrative assistant, criminal courtroom clerk, cashier, head cashier, and backup bookkeeper.
Radford currently serves as an Assistant Clerk of Superior Court in the Estates and Special Proceedings Division serving as an office administrator, staff supervisor, ex officio judge of probate, and special proceedings hearing officer. She has presided over hearings related to adoptions, estates, foreclosures, guardianships, partitions, and private condemnations. Prior to joining the clerk’s office, Radford worked as a paralegal for twenty-two years with Hollowell and Benton, P.A.
“Over the last thirteen years I have observed firsthand Robin Radford’s knowledge and expertise within the clerk’s office. She is known for her friendly demeanor and professionalism and is highly regarded by her colleagues in the clerk’s office, the legal and judicial community, and the citizens of Wayne County,” said Judge Bland. “The North Carolina Judicial System is currently working to modernize our court system with updated applications and technology to continue the transition to electronic systems designed to make the judicial process more efficient and accessible to everyone. With her knowledge and experience, Mrs. Radford is well prepared to help lead these improvements.”
Radford will serve as the Wayne County Clerk of Superior Court for the remainder of the term, which will expire in December 2022. On Monday, December 6, 2022, Radford filed a Notice of Candidacy with the Wayne County Board of Elections to run for an additional term as clerk in the 2022 election.
The installation ceremony for District Court Judge-select Minshew and Clerk of Superior Court-select Radford will be Thursday afternoon, December 16, 2021, at 4 p.m. in the historic Courtroom One in the Wayne County Courthouse in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The public is invited to attend.
