My Experience.
Judge Ericka James has been on the bench for more than a decade. Here’s what she’s learned.
Experience Matters.
I have served for more than a decade as a judge in Wayne, Lenoir and Greene Counties. Before that, I have worked as a prosecutor, public defender, and private attorney in North Carolina and Virginia. I have prosecuted and defended people accused of every level of criminal offense.
Along the way, I’ve learned the value of truly listening to people. There are two sides to every story and you cannot make a decision until you have heard all evidence. I don’t prejudge people or their cases. Everyone deserves to be heard. In my courtroom, they are.
Why Courts Matter.
Our courts are where real people with real problems go to find justice under the law. We must have judges who strictly uphold the law who are not influenced by politics.
People have a right to expect that our courts are guided by the rule of law, not the current winds of politics. If our communities are going to maintain faith that we are a nation of laws where no one is above the law, then our local courts must be a place where everyone can be heard and everyone finds equal justice under the law. Our courts must move through cases efficiently without hampering the right to due process. Our courts must be managed by judges with deep legal experience.
Improving Our Courts.
Some call me the “No Nonsense Judge,” which sounds about right to me. “No nonsense” is not just about dress codes and proper courtroom decorum. It’s about moving cases efficiently through the legal system in ways in which decisions are expedited without limiting due process and everyone’s right to be heard on their day in court. Crime victims want answers, justice, and closure. Defendants have a right to a speedy trial. Justice delayed is justice denied. We can improve efficiency without hampering due process.
Our courts in Wayne County are recovering from the backlogs triggered by the COVID pandemic, but we need to do more to improve our efficiency in making sure justice is not unnecessarily delayed. We need orderly operation of our courtrooms so that all parties involved can be heard and understood before judgements are made by juries or judges. If my work to improve operations of our courts earns me the “No Nonsense” nickname, then so be it.