I was born in Burnsville and lived in rural Yancey County until my parents passed away when I was fifteen. Following their deaths, I moved to Caldwell County to live with my brother, a State Trooper, and his family. I graduated from the local public schools before earning my B.A. Magna Cum Laude from Catawba College, where I was honored with the Whitener Award. This prestigious award is given to the senior who best exemplifies the College’s goals of leadership, scholarship, and service. I later received my law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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I currently serve as a Judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals (2017-present), a position I have held for several years after previously serving in 2007-2008. My prior experience includes serving as a Special Superior Court Judge in 2007, as well as working as a partner at James, McElroy & Diehl, PA. I am an American Arbitration Association-accredited arbitrator and a certified mediator. I also have experience as a Staff Attorney for the NC Court of Appeals and as a research assistant to Court of Appeals Judge Gerald Arnold.

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Beyond my professional work, I am an active member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Charlotte and remain deeply engaged in my community. I have served on the Board of Trustees for the Mint Museum of Art and the Board of the Charlotte Urban Ministry Center, an organization dedicated to assisting the homeless.