Local attorney Hathaway Pendergrass announced on Wednesday his intention to run for a District Court Judge seat in Orange and Chatham counties in 2020.
Pendergrass made the announcement on The Ron Stutts Show on 97.9 The Hill WCHL on Wednesday morning.
“It’s our community, simply put,” Pendergrass said Wednesday when announcing why he would be running.
“I’ve had the privilege of working in district court – focusing solely really on district court litigation – now in my eighth year and getting a lot of experience in all the courtrooms throughout Orange and Chatham counties.
“But combining that with also the community work I’ve been able to engage in and the different corners of the community I’ve been able to work in, people I’ve been able to meet – even since I grew up here – there’s so much more you can always learn, never stop learning in our community. The combination of those two things – experience in the courtroom, experience in the community – led me to today.”
Pendergrass is a native of Carrboro and has been working as an attorney with Epting and Hackney. He graduated from Chapel Hill High School before earning an undergraduate degree from UNC and going to law school at North Carolina Central University.
A website launched in conjunction with the announcement said Pendergrass has built a judicial philosophy focused on three pillars: ensuring equity in the judicial process, connecting with compassion and advocating in the best interests of children and youth.
“People who come before district court judges, they at a minimum are having a bad day. Most of them are having one of the worst, if not the worst day of their life,” Pendergrass said Wednesday. “Connecting as much as I can with every single person that comes before me, I think, is of the highest degree of importance in this job.”
Pendergrass, who is 35 years old, said he feels his experience in the courtroom will alleviate concerns over his age.
“It’s a new job,” he said. “Whether you’ve been doing it for three or 30 years, it’s just a new job; it’s going to be a huge learning curve for anybody. But I think wisdom is really even more key than experience. The idea of knowing what you know and more importantly what you don’t know.”
Pendergrass has served on the board of the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, planning boards in Carrboro and Orange County and serves as a teen court judge with Volunteers for Youth diversionary program.
Pendergrass is running for the seat currently held by Judge Jay Bryan, who will be forced to retire due to age in January. Four district court judge seats will be up for election in Orange and Chatham counties in 2020. In addition to the seat held by Bryan, seats currently occupied by Samantha Cabe, Sherri Murrell and Beverly Scarlett will be up for election.
Related Stories
‹
Gov. Cooper Appoints Joal Broun as New Orange, Chatham County District Court JudgeCarrboro resident Joal Broun is set to become Orange and Chatham Counties’ latest district court judge. Governor Roy Cooper appointed Broun, who currently works for the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, to fill Judge Beverly Scarlett’s seat in District 15B. Scarlett retired from her role in March, after serving on the bench […]
Here's Where to Vote Early in Orange and Chatham CountiesEarly voting is officially underway in North Carolina and millions of voters have already visited polling sites to cast their ballots. Here’s what you need to know about voting early in Orange and Chatham counties. Where can I vote early? This year, there are six locations in Orange County where residents can vote early: Orange […]
Christopher Todd Roper Named Chatham, Orange County District Court Judge by Gov. CooperNorth Carolina Governor Roy Cooper named some judicial appointments to district courts on Friday. Among them was one who will serve Chatham and Orange Counties. Cooper named Christopher Todd Roper as the next District Court Judge for Judicial District 15B, which covers the two counties. Roper will be filling the vacant seat left by Joseph […]
Orange County Proposing Voting Precinct Changes Ahead of 2020 ElectionDo you know where to vote come Election Day 2020? Polling locations for Orange County residents on November 6, 2020, might change as the Orange County Board of Elections reviews local precincts maps. The goal is to provide a more efficient and convenient experience for voters across the county, according to Orange County Elections director […]
Local Government Meetings: February 9-13, 2025This week in local government: residents in Chatham County push back against Flock license-plate cameras and AI data centers.
Haw River Assembly Shares Annual Report on Health of the Watershed, Issues Facing ItIn February, the Haw River Assembly will host several opportunities for the community to hear updates on the state of the watershed.
Orange County Governments Share Service Delays, Facility Closures Following Weekend SnowFollowing inches of snow, local governments in Orange and Chatham counties alerted residents to how their operations are affected for Monday and Tuesday.
Orange County Sheriff's Office Brings Two Dozen Additional Charges Against Durham ManOrange County authorities charged Durham's Keshaun Christopher Byrd over a November string of break-ins along Red Hill Lane and Seven Springs Road.
2025 Election Results for Local Races in Orange County and PittsboroTuesday marked Election Day for local races across North Carolina. Here are the vote tallies for Orange County and Pittsboro's elections.
2025 Early Voting in Orange, Durham and Chatham Counties is Underway; Here's Where to GoEarly voting in North Carolina begins on Thursday morning, helping bring the local election season to a crescendo across 16 days.
›
