Contested seats go to women in Wake's district court

Most District Court races unopposed

RALEIGH -- Three women -- Jacqueline Brewer, Christine Walczyk and Anna E. Worley -- earned spots on Wake County's District Court benches, beating out their male opponents in Tuesday's election.

The three races at the District Court level were the only contested ones in the Wake County Courthouse, with most of the 11 District Court judges running unopposed for re-election.

But Walcyzk and Brewer, both appointed to the bench by Gov. Mike Easley, attracted challengers. Brewer beat Cary lawyer John J. Miller, and Walcyzk triumphed over Walter B. Rand, a Raleigh defense attorney.

Mark Perry, a Raleigh defense attorney, and Anna Worley, a Raleigh family law attorney, battled to take over the bench opening created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Shelley Desvousges. Worley won Tuesday.

Howard Manning was the only Wake Superior Court judge up for election but didn't attract an opponent, earning him another eight years on the bench, with a salary $124,382.

And Laura M. Riddick, Wake's Register of Deeds since 1996, sailed through Tuesday's election with no competition.

Also, William Cole beat out three competitors to become Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor.

The 17 District Court judges in Wake routinely rotate in and out of courtrooms and hear a variety of cases -- child custody, divorce, juvenile crimes, civil disputes, domestic violence, traffic tickets and misdemeanor crimes. The position pays $106,445 per year, carries a four-year term and faces the challenges of wading through growing dockets as the courthouse sees an increased number of filings every year in all types of cases.

This year was also unusual because two of the candidates -- Perry and Rand had convictions for driving while impaired, which could have been the type of cases they'd preside over if they're elected.

Perry has a pending DWI charge as well. His next court date is Nov. 14.

None of the other Wake District Court judge candidates have criminal records, according to a search of court records. None of those running had disciplinary action by the N.C. State Bar, the state agency that monitors lawyers' behavior. North Carolina law doesn't prevent someone with criminal convictions from running for judicial office. The state requires only that a person be over 21, have a license to practice law in North Carolina and, in the case of a District Court judgeship, reside in the district he or she is running for.

The Judicial Standards Commission disciplines sitting judges, not candidates for the bench. It has no authority to punish someone for a crime committed previously.