Who is Donald Cureton, District 26A NC Superior Court candidate?
.JPG "Candidates running in the 2022 general election for local, state and federal office respond to questions about their positions.")
Name: Donald Cureton
Political party: Democratic
Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 44
Campaign website: judgecureton.com
Occupation: District Court Judge
Education: J.D. Howard University of Law, Merit Scholarship; B.A. Winston-Salem State, Chancellor’s Scholarship
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought):
Yes - District Court Judge in 2010 and 2018.
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
- Truancy Court- Race Matters for Juvenile Justice- Governor’s Crime Commission
Name two personal traits that best qualify you to be a Mecklenburg County judge?
My demeanor and my discernment. These are the two main traits a qualified judge should possess. A good judge knows the law and can assess the law appropriately. A good judge also addresses all parties with a demeanor that is not condescending or demeaning, but in a way that factors in the circumstances of the everyone involved, addressing those circumstances appropriately.
Do the courts provide judgments that are racially fair? If so, say why. If not, how could you change that?
The courts do not always provide racially fair judgments. When making judgments, the court must, of course, consider the relevant laws and apply them in a fair manner to all. However, we must also recognize that implicit biases exist, and that these biases influence the judgments the court makes. As someone who has completed extensive implicit bias training, and teaches such trainings to others, I believe I can bring this knowledge and experience to the courtroom and reduce racial bias.
Why should the public, the government or the accused trust that you’ll be a competent judge?
I already have 12 years of experience as a District Court judge. I am a state certified juvenile court judge who has extensive training in the laws and science behind child development and child welfare issues. I have also taught classes for judges and other legal professionals about the substantive areas of both constitutional law and juvenile/criminal law. The depth of my experience with and knowledge of the law should leave no doubt that I will be a competent Superior Court judge.
Is there an area where you disagree with North Carolina laws or policies and procedures in the courtroom?
I always respect and follow the laws of our state and the procedures that govern my obligations in the courtroom. However, there are times I wish our structure was less rigid to allow for conflicting parties to more holistically and permanently resolve their disagreements.
What separates you from your general election opponent?
With 12 years on the District Court bench, I have much more judicial experience than my opponent. I also understand and appreciate the value of implicit bias training and applying those concepts to the bench. I don’t believe I have all the answers, but I am willing to ask the necessary questions to get to the root cause of issues. Lastly, I am well versed in multiple areas of law, and have served in every courtroom possible (criminal, civil, family and juvenile).
What one professional or political accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the fact that I met no opposition in 2019 when I ran for the District Court seat, that I now hold, in the Mecklenburg County Bar election. This confirmed to me that, despite losing my District Court re-election bid in 2018, people recognized the value I provided to the bench and wanted me to return to that position.
This story was originally published October 14, 2022 at 12:24 PM.
