Rowan County Chief District Court Judge Charlie Brown has been reappointed as chairman of the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission by North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley.

As chair, Brown presides over the 28-member Commission and its subcommittees. The Commission examines North Carolina’s sentencing laws and practices and makes recommendations to the North Carolina General Assembly for the addition, deletion, or expansion of sentencing options as necessary to achieve policy goals. The Commission employs an executive director and a team of nine full-time staff members.

“I appreciate the work Judge Brown has done and look forward to his recommendations,” said Chief Justice Beasley in a letter announcing Judge Brown's appointment. “I’m grateful for his willingness to continue serving on this important commission and his contribution to the administration of justice.”

Brown has extensive experience in the court system and deep knowledge of the work of the Commission. He took over leadership of the organization in 2017 after serving as a member for nine years. Prior to becoming chair, he served on seven Commission subcommittees, including leading the pivotal Justice Reinvestment Act Subcommittee. Additionally, he represented the Commission on the Youth Accountability Task Force created by the North Carolina General Assembly to design a plan to raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction.

“I’m honored to be reappointed to lead the Commission, and I’m proud of the work that we’re doing together,” said Brown. “Among other areas of study, we will continue to focus on important sentencing and correctional policy issues including DWI sentencing laws, forecasting prison and jail populations, and examining offender recidivism.”

Brown is a past president of the Conference of Chief District Court Judges. He was elected to the district court bench in Rowan County in 1998 and appointed chief district court judge in 2001. He has more than 27 years of experience in the North Carolina court system, having served as a private attorney, Department of Social Services attorney and assistant district attorney, in addition to chief district court judge. Brown continues his regular duties as a chief district court judge in addition to his leadership of the Commission.

Brown received his bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University and studied law at the University of South Dakota School of Law and the Wake Forest University School of Law. He lives in Salisbury with his wife, Emily Ford. They have three children.