News

Cooper appoints Hendersonville attorney to District Court bench

James Marshall

By Lightning Reports, Published: January 12, 2023

Gov. Roy Cooper has appointed Hendersonville attorney James Marshall to serve as District Court judge in Judicial District 29B, the district serving Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties.

Marshall fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Thomas McAvoy “Mack” Brittain Jr. Marshall currently practices law with the firm of Carr, Blackwell & Associates. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with his bachelor of arts degree and earned his law degree from Charlotte School of Law.

Marshall's appointment was one of three District Court judgeships Cooper's office announced on Thursday.

“These appointees bring years of knowledge and experience to the bench,” Cooper said. “I’m thankful for their willingness to serve their communities as District Court judges.”

Other appointments:

• Walter W. “Trip” Baker has been appointed to serve as District Court Judge in Judicial District 18, serving Guilford County. He will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of the Honorable Marcus Shields last year. Baker is currently an Assistant District Attorney in Guilford County. Previously, he was a Solo Practitioner at Baker Law Offices. He earned his Bachelor of Arts at the University of North Carolina at Asheville and his Juris Doctor at Wake Forest University School of Law.
• Michael Onufer has been appointed to serve as District Court Judge in District 11, serving Johnston, Harnett and Lee counties. He will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Henry Willis. Onufer has served as both as an Assistant Public Defender and as an Assistant District Attorney in the state of North Carolina. He also serves on the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. He earned his Bachelor of Arts at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and his Juris Doctor at North Carolina Central University School of Law.