In 1998, NCAWA created the Judicial Division to help meet the needs of the increasing number of women judges on the bench in North Carolina. This group, first chaired by Judge Linda McGee, allows women judges from across the state to get to know one another.  NCAWA recognizes that because of the judicial code of ethics, it is often difficult for judges to feel comfortable joining attorney organizations that take positions on issues. Therefore, none of the positions taken by NCAWA apply to the Judicial Division unless a majority of the Judicial Division members agree. 

 

Each spring, the Judicial Division hosts the Women Judges Forum at many of North Carolina's law schools.  The Women Judges Forum is comprised of female judges from several trial and appellate levels of the North Carolina court system.  The purpose of the forum is to encourage female students to consider the judiciary as a career choice. The judges, mostly from the North Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, speak candidly about the barriers they faced as they aspired to office and how they overcame them, especially in the days before many women lawyers served on the courts.  The Division also presents a periodic award to the “Outstanding Judge of the Year.”

If you have any questions about the Judicial Division, please contact the Judicial Division Co-Chairs, the Honorable Linda McGee, NC Court of Appeals (Ret.) and the Honorable Allegra Collins of the NC Court of Appeals.