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The following is information from one of three Republican candidates for Davie District Court Judge seat. Voters will select one; early voting started April 28 and the primary will be on May 17.

The Candidate

Name

Eric Farr

Age

38

Address

Mocksville

Family

Wife, Aimee. Two sons, ages 6 and 8

Education

Edinboro University, bachelor’s degree in political science, minor in history; Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley School of Law,  juris joctor

Occupation

Assistant District Attorney, N.C. Judicial Branch Prosecutorial District 33 (Davidson and Davie counties). Prosecute misdemeanor and felony criminal cases for the state, fighting for victims of crime and seeking justice.Oversee all juvenile prosecutions and advise and assist law enforcement with investigative/charging decisions.

In The Community

• Immediate past chair of the Board of Directors, Davie Pregnancy Care Center

• Davie Little League baseball coach

• YMCA youth flag football coach

• Active member, Calvary West (band member, preschool leader)

• Former mentor, Big Brothers/Big Sisters

• District 33 Bar President (Davidson and Davie counties)

• Member Davie County GOP, former delegate to the NC GOP 13th District Convention

* Guest speaker, mock trial class for basic law enforcement training (BLET) program for Davidson-Davie Community College.

Why did you decide to seek public office? (250 words or less)

Being a judge is truly a calling and it is one that I have had for many years.  Unfortunately, I was exposed to the legal system at a young age due to my parents’ divorce.  I saw how important it was to have the right person on the bench- the person who would decide issues involving families, freedoms, and property.  I was the first person in my family to attend law school.  While in law school, I had many great professors but two of my favorites were judges.  One was a state trial court judge and the other was a United States Court of Appeals judge who was initially appointed by President Ronald Reagan!  Both men taught me so much about the law and life in general as well.  I developed a deep admiration for them and began to feel that perhaps one day, God would allow me to be a judge.  When our Chief District Court Judge, Jimmy Myers, announced that he would be retiring, I knew that the time had come for me to serve on the bench.  I have so much respect for Judge Myers.  He swore me in when I began practicing law in 2010 and I had the privilege of trying many cases- both civil and criminal- before him.  I have had the distinct privilege of working closely with Judge Myers while I was an attorney in private practice, as a Magistrate, and also as a prosecutor.  He has served the people of Davidson and Davie counties honorably and I hope to follow in his footsteps.

What is your work/life experience that would qualify you to be a judge? (500 words of less)

My first legal experience was during college when I interned for a personal injury attorney.  I learned a great deal helping out on cases and attending depositions and other hearings.  After finishing my law school courses in just two years, I worked my entire last semester as a full-time intern in a prosecutor’s office.  I sat “second chair” on a first-degree rape trial and also in a probable cause hearing in a capital (death penalty) double homicide case in which two men brutally tortured and murdered a woman (who was 8 months pregnant) along with her unborn child.  Working on these tragic cases were formative experiences in my legal career that have helped to mold me into who I am, professionally, today.  I also conducted various hearings on my own, met with victims of crime, conducted research, and performed appellate work, writing legal briefs to appellate courts.

After law school I opened my own law firm in Lexington, NC, where I focused my practice primarily in Davidson and Davie counties.  I practiced in the following areas: criminal defense at both the District and Superior Court levels; juvenile defense; Dept. of Social Services cases involving child abuse and neglect and also termination of parental rights cases; family law (child custody, child support, etc.); wills and trusts; civil litigation- personal injury, contracts (formations/disputes etc.), small claims; debt collections; involuntary commitment hearings; competency proceedings before the Clerk of Superior Court (to determine whether a guardian would be appointed); and various other matters.

I greatly enjoyed the private practice of law but a new opportunity presented itself when I was appointed by our Senior Resident Superior Court Judge to be a North Carolina Magistrate here in Davie County.  Serving as a Magistrate was one of the greatest honors of my life.  I gained invaluable judicial experience presiding over probable cause hearings in criminal cases to determine whether to issue charges, search warrants, or warrants for arrest; setting bond conditions; presiding over traffic court; determining involuntary commitments; performing marriages; and presiding over many civil trials in small claims court (cases where the plaintiff is seeking up to $10,000).  Many of these were cases that used to be heard by District Court Judges before the General Assembly raised the jurisdictional amount from $5,000 up to $10,000.

Serving as a Magistrate was an extremely rewarding career and I am glad that I was able to help so many people in our community, but ever since my law school internship, I always wanted to prosecute again, so in February of 2021 I accepted a position offered to me by our elected District Attorney, Garry Frank, to serve as an Assistant District Attorney for Davidson and Davie Counties.  One of my favorite aspects of prosecuting is that I get to be a voice for people who have been victimized by the illegal actions of others.

Does it matter if District Court Judges are Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative? Give reasons. (500 words or less)

To answer this question, you must first look at what a District Court Judge does.  A judge must always remain neutral in every case and decide the issues before him or her in a fair manner, without regard to who is appearing before the court.  In other words, they must see that justice is served in every case.  Justice requires that a judge treat EVERYONE fairly- without regard to who they are, what they look like, or where they’re from.  I was raised in church and taught to value Christ over everything else.  I’m a very conservative person and a registered Republican because my values align with what the Republican party stands for- faith, family, freedom, opportunity, and prosperity for all.  All judges’ decision-making framework is informed by their life experiences, knowledge, education, and work experience.  As a Christian and conservative, I believe that judges should never impose their personal feelings and beliefs on others.  Many times, District Court Judges make decisions that implicate fundamental Constitutional rights, like an individual’s First Amendment free speech rights or parents’ rights to raise their children as they see fit (or to have their children removed from their care).  I feel that a truly conservative judge knows how to decide these tough questions in a fair and impartial manner and ensure that they don’t legislate from the bench.  It’s important to have conservative judges who understand that they don’t write the law, they apply the law.

Other Issues

Our next District Court Judge should be someone with integrity, experience, and who will ensure that justice is served in every case.  If you ask those that know me, they will tell you I’m a man of integrity.  I have strong moral principles and always try to do the right thing.  I have over 12 years of legal experience.  I’m the only candidate who has worked in private practice, served as a Magistrate, and also as a prosecutor.  I have devoted my career to serving the public and seeking justice in every case.  This is something that a judge must do.  I’m a Christian and a true conservative who understands that judges apply the law- they don’t write the law.

I grew up in the country working on a farm and working construction as I got older.  I’ve been working hard my whole life and will continue to work hard to serve the citizens of Davidson and Davie Counties if I am elected to serve as your next District Court Judge.  I’m running for this position because I have been encouraged by many in my profession who think that I will be a good judge and also because I believe I have been called to it.  I feel that all of my experiences in both work and life have uniquely qualified me to be a District Court Judge.

Lastly, I’m a devoted public servant who stands for the rule of law- that no one is above the law. If you believe in the rule of law as I do, with my whole heart, then I humbly ask for your vote in the Republican Primary on May 17th.  Go War Eagles!

Why did you decide to seek public office?

Farr: Being a judge is truly a calling and it is one that I have had for many years. Unfortunately, I was exposed to the legal system at a young age due to my parents’ divorce. I saw how important it was to have the right person on the bench- the person who would decide issues involving families, freedoms, and property.

I was the first person in my family to attend law school.  While in law school, I had many great professors but two of my favorites were judges. One was a state trial court judge and the other was a U.S. Court of Appeals judge who was initially appointed by President Ronald Reagan!  Both men taught me so much about the law and life in general as well.  I developed a deep admiration for them and began to feel that perhaps one day, God would allow me to be a judge.  When our Chief District Court Judge, Jimmy Myers, announced that he would be retiring, I knew that the time had come for me to serve on the bench. I have so much respect for Judge Myers. He swore me in when I began practicing law in 2010 and I had the privilege of trying many cases- both civil and criminal- before him.  I have had the distinct privilege of working closely with Judge Myers while I was an attorney in private practice, as a magistrate, and also as a prosecutor. He has served the people of Davidson and Davie counties honorably and I hope to follow in his footsteps.

What is your work/life experience that would qualify you to be a judge?

Farr: My first legal experience was during college when I interned for a personal injury attorney.  I learned a great deal helping out on cases and attending depositions and other hearings.  After finishing my law school courses in just two years, I worked my entire last semester as a full-time intern in a prosecutor’s office.  I sat “second chair” on a first-degree rape trial and also in a probable cause hearing in a capital (death penalty) double homicide case in which two men brutally tortured and murdered a woman (who was 8 months pregnant) along with her unborn child.  Working on these tragic cases were formative experiences in my legal career that have helped to mold me into who I am, professionally, today.  I also conducted various hearings on my own, met with victims of crime, conducted research, and performed appellate work, writing legal briefs to appellate courts.

After law school I opened my own law firm in Lexington, where I focused my practice primarily in Davidson and Davie counties.  I practiced in the following areas: criminal defense at both the District and Superior Court levels; juvenile defense; Dept. of Social Services cases involving child abuse and neglect and also termination of parental rights cases; family law (child custody, child support, etc.); wills and trusts; civil litigation- personal injury, contracts (formations/disputes etc.), small claims; debt collections; involuntary commitment hearings; competency proceedings before the Clerk of Superior Court (to determine whether a guardian would be appointed); and various other matters.

I greatly enjoyed the private practice of law but a new opportunity presented itself when I was appointed by our Senior Resident Superior Court Judge to be a N.C. magistrate here in Davie County. Serving as a magistrate was one of the greatest honors of my life.  I gained invaluable judicial experience presiding over probable cause hearings in criminal cases to determine whether to issue charges, search warrants, or warrants for arrest; setting bond conditions; presiding over traffic court; determining involuntary commitments; performing marriages; and presiding over many civil trials in small claims court (cases where the plaintiff is seeking up to $10,000).  Many of these were cases that used to be heard by District Court Judges before the General Assembly raised the jurisdictional amount from $5,000 up to $10,000.

Serving as a magistrate was an extremely rewarding career and I am glad that I was able to help so many people in our community, but ever since my law school internship, I always wanted to prosecute again, so in February of 2021 I accepted a position offered to me by our elected District Attorney, Garry Frank, to serve as an Assistant District Attorney for Davidson and Davie Counties.  One of my favorite aspects of prosecuting is that I get to be a voice for people who have been victimized by the illegal actions of others.

Does it matter if District Court Judges are Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative? Give reasons.

Farr: To answer this question, you must first look at what a District Court Judge does. A judge must always remain neutral in every case and decide the issues before him or her in a fair manner, without regard to who is appearing before the court. In other words, they must see that justice is served in every case. Justice requires that a judge treat everyone fairly- without regard to who they are, what they look like, or where they’re from.

I was raised in church and taught to value Christ over everything else. I’m a very conservative person and a registered Republican because my values align with what the Republican party stands for – faith, family, freedom, opportunity, and prosperity for all. All judges’ decision-making framework is informed by their life experiences, knowledge, education, and work experience.

As a Christian and conservative, I believe that judges should never impose their personal feelings and beliefs on others. Many times, District Court Judges make decisions that implicate fundamental Constitutional rights, like an individual’s First Amendment free speech rights or parents’ rights to raise their children as they see fit (or to have their children removed from their care). I feel that a truly conservative judge knows how to decide these tough questions in a fair and impartial manner and ensure that they don’t legislate from the bench. It’s important to have conservative judges who understand that they don’t write the law, they apply the law.

Other Issues

Farr: Our next District Court Judge should be someone with integrity, experience, and who will ensure that justice is served in every case.  If you ask those that know me, they will tell you I’m a man of integrity.  I have strong moral principles and always try to do the right thing. I have over 12 years of legal experience.  I’m the only candidate who has worked in private practice, served as a magistrate, and also as a prosecutor. I have devoted my career to serving the public and seeking justice in every case. This is something that a judge must do. I’m a Christian and a true conservative who understands that judges apply the law- they don’t write the law.

I grew up in the country working on a farm and working construction as I got older.  I’ve been working hard my whole life and will continue to work hard to serve the citizens of Davidson and Davie Counties if I am elected to serve as your next District Court Judge.  I’m running for this position because I have been encouraged by many in my profession who think that I will be a good judge and also because I believe I have been called to it.  I feel that all of my experiences in both work and life have uniquely qualified me to be a District Court Judge.

Lastly, I’m a devoted public servant who stands for the rule of law- that no one is above the law. If you believe in the rule of law as I do, with my whole heart, then I humbly ask for your vote in the Republican Primary on May 17.  Go War Eagles!