Chief Justice Mark Martin has appointed Judge Patricia Evans as chief district court judge, effective January 1, 2019, for Judicial District 14 (Durham County). Judge Evans will succeed Chief Judge James Hill upon his retirement.

Chief Justice Martin also has appointed Judge Don "Skipper" Creed as chief district court judge, effective January 1, 2019, for the new Judicial District 19D (Hoke and Moore counties; Hoke is currently in District 16A and Moore is in District 19B).

Judge Evans has served as district court judge in Judicial District 14 since 2011. She also previously served as an assistant district attorney from 1990 to 1994. Judge Evans received her undergraduate degree and her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from North Carolina Central University.

Judge Creed began serving as judge in Judicial District 19B in 2007, and previously as an assistant district attorney from 1998 to 2001. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and earned his J.D. from Mississippi College School of Law.