• Congratulations to Newly Certified Magistrates

    This entry was contributed by Melanie Crenshaw on February 12, 2025 at 1:35 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.
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    For most citizens in North Carolina magistrates are the “first face” of the judicial system. They serve the public with professionalism, continually staying updated on the ever-evolving civil and criminal laws. Teaching magistrates is a very fulfilling part of my job, because they are always eager to learn, and they readily participate in class.

    In 2021, the legislature increased the magistrates’ training requirements from 12 hours every two years to 12 hours annually. As part of those 12 hours of training, magistrates are required to receive annual training on seven required subjects: (1) setting conditions of pretrial release, (2) impaired driving laws, (3) issuing criminal processes, (4) issuing search warrants, (5) technology, (6) orders of protection, and (7) summary ejectment laws. GS 7A-177.

    In 2020 the North Carolina Judicial College launched the Magistrate Certification Program to recognize magistrates who complete continued training in the areas of civil and criminal law. These magistrates not only meet their minimum annual requirements but, over their careers, they participate in advanced courses to fulfill the five components necessary for Civil and/or Criminal Law Certification. Completing these components demonstrates the magistrate’s commitment to continuous learning. A complete list of magistrates who have achieved certification since 2021 is available on the UNC School of Government website.

    Applications for certification were received from November 1 through December 31, 2024. The next application period will be November 1 through December 31, 2025. It is my pleasure to announce the newly certified magistrates for 2024:

    Civil Law

    Deanne G. Brown, Montgomery County

    Leslie M. Bruner, Scotland County

    Greg T. Dail, Chowan County

    Joseph Glen Faulkner, Stanly County

    Mary Sue S. Harrell, Wilson County

    Tara M. Honesty, Edgecombe County

    Bryson B. Jenkins, Jones County

    James G. McAteer, Jr., Gaston County

    Althea Williams, Mecklenburg County

     

    Criminal Law

    Tara M. Honesty, Edgecombe County

    Penny Lytle, Mecklenburg County

     

    On behalf of the Judicial College, I extend my sincere congratulations to these magistrates on this extraordinary achievement. If you are a magistrate who is interested in certification, read more about it on the NC Magistrate microsite. If you have any questions about certification, please contact me at mcrenshaw@sog.unc.edu.

     

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    Melanie Crenshaw
    Melanie Crenshaw joined the School of Government in August 2022, working with magistrates in the area of civil law. Prior to joining the School, she worked as a magistrate in Cumberland County. Before serving as a magistrate, Crenshaw was in private practice in Greensboro, North Carolina, where she represented clients in a variety of matters related to family law. While in private practice, she also worked as an adjunct professor at the Elon University School of Law in the areas of family law and moot court. During law school, Crenshaw was the research clerk for the NC Pattern Jury Instruction Criminal Subcommittee and spent a summer as an intern in the Clerk’s Office of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Prior to attending law school, she was a high school french teacher in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

    Crenshaw received her JD summa cum laude from Elon University School of Law as a member of the charter class. She served on the Elon Moot Court Board and as symposium editor on the Elon Law Review. She earned her BA summa cum laude from Elon College where she studied French. She is a member of the North Carolina State Bar.
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