News

VOTER GUIDE: District Court judge

By Lightning Reports, Published: October 20, 2024

Seat 3 of the District 42 bench seat is the only contested race among the four on the Nov. 5 ballot. Facing no opposition are incumbent District Court judges James Marshall, Gene Johnson and Kimberly Gasperson-Justice, all Republicans. The candidates for District Court Judge Seat 3 are Lora T. Baker, who is unaffiliated, and Monica Gillett, a Republican. District 42 is made up of Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties.

Baker, 41, was appointed to the District Court bench in December 2023 by Gov. Roy Cooper. She earned her spot on the Nov. 5 ballot by collecting enough signatures to run as an unaffiliated candidate. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from UNC at Chapel Hill, she earned her law degree from Campbell University. She practiced criminal, family, civil, abuse/neglect/dependency appeals, corporate and administrative law for 15 years in private practice, served as town attorney for Columbus and was a guardian ad litem attorney advocate before becoming a judge. She and her husband, Matthew Baker, have a son, Cade, who is 8, and a daughter, Maggie, 5. In her free time, Baker enjoys traveling and embarking on new adventures with her family.

Gillett, 46, was a prosecutor in District 42 in 2007 before opening her own firm in private practice in 2009. She has tried cases in courtrooms of Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties for 17 years. A board-certified family law specialist, certified parenting coordinator and former guardian ad litem, Gillett earned an associate’s degree from Blue Ridge Community College, bachelor’s degree from UNCA and juris doctorate degree from Campbell Law School. She has sons ages 25, 13 and 11. “I am also a soccer mom!” she says.

Why are you running for a District Court judgeship?

Baker: I have been honored to serve as a District Court judge since my appointment last year. I enjoy the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of families, communities and our district as a whole. I like problem solving, and trying to find resolutions for litigants that will help them not just now but years down the road. 

Gillett: I have been a part of the system my entire life. I was born to teenage parents and raised by my grandparents. I have been exposed to domestic violence, substance abuse and mental health issues. I navigated the system as a single mother with no education. I overcame all these obstacles by the grace of God and believe that everything I endured was for a reason. My experiences will allow me to fairly and justly preside over cases and people for whom I have great understanding and appreciation.

What are your highest priorities on the bench over the next four years?

Gillett: My priorities while on the bench will include giving my community an opportunity to be heard, being respectful to all those who come before me, being neutral in my decisions and always trying to do what is best for the people. A District Court judge is uniquely positioned to affect the most important parts of people’s lives, whether it be in criminal court or in family court, and I will take on this role understanding the great responsibility that it entails.

Baker: I want to find a way to stop the cycle of children from abuse/neglect/dependency households becoming juvenile delinquents, and growing up to be adult criminal defendants, and parents in abuse/neglect/dependency households. I’d like to see our justice system work with the community to find a way to make a positive difference in the lives of not just children but adults as well. 

What area has the greatest room for improvement in the judiciary in District 42?

Baker: I think we need to restore confidence in our judicial system. The public confidence in judges acting as neutral decision makers has faltered, and it’s up to judges to fix the problem. That’s why I am running as an unaffiliated candidate. If I label myself as a conservative or liberal, half of my community will walk into my courtroom thinking they have no chance at a fair trial. That’s not the case in my courtroom. I don’t care who you vote for; I am going to treat you the same as everyone else. That is what I’m sworn to do, and how every judge should preside.

Gillett: Since Covid and with the implementation of eCourts, there has been an increase in the backlog of cases. As a private attorney, it was often very frustrating to report to clients that their cases would not be reached. I intend to utilize my experiences in the courtroom and my training within the eCourts system to efficiently run court, ensuring that we reach as many cases as possible and give the members of my community their time in court.