NEWS & EVENTS | judgeamandamaris

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News & Events

Judge Maris is honored to have been re-elected as a District Court Judge for two terms in the 2018 and 2022 general election and sincerely thanks the people of Durham for their support. She is running for re-election in 2026 and humbly seeks your support.

2026 Election:

Judge Maris filed her Notice of Candidacy December 1, 2025 with the State Board of Elections seeking re-election as a District Court Judge. MORE SOON!!

On 12/1/25: Judges Maris, Dave Hall & Dorothy Hairston Mitchell (Left); Judge Kevin E. Jones with Judge Maris (Right)

2022 Election:

Judge Maris files her Notice of Candidacy December 6, 2021.

Judge Maris grants approximately 400 petitions (representing over 14,000 charges) to expunge misdemeanor convictions of teens ages 16 and 17 years old who did not get the benefit of the recent bipartisan "Raise the Age Legislation." Dec. 2, 2021 (Click for Story)

"Fewer people incarcerated in NC's county jails during the pandemic, but the ones left are staying longer," by Yanqi Xu, NC Policy Watch, Jan. 5, 2021 (Click for Story)

"Thousands of Durham Residents Eligible to Legally Drive Again," by Thomasi McDonald, Indy Week, Nov. 25, 2020 (Click for Story)

DEAR Program Wins Route Fifty "Leaders" Award (Award Recipients: Judge Maris, DA Deberry & Ryan Smith, City of Durham I-Team) Dec. 4, 2019 (Click for Story, Pictured below)

"Advocates Say Durham's Experiment to Wipe Thousands of Old Cases Off the Books Could Be a Model for Statewide Justice Reform," by Sarah Willets, Indy Week, Mar. 13 2019 (Click for Story

2018 Election:

Judge Maris is selected by Gov. Roy Cooper to become Durham's next District Court Judge.

Press Release, NC Governor: Gov. Cooper Appoints New District Court Judge for Durham County

Herald-Sun: Gov. Roy Cooper appoints Amanda Maris to finish Marcia Morey's term as District Court Judge

N.C. Policy Watch: Cooper taps assistant public defender for Durham district court judgeship

N.C. Central University School of Law, Of Counsel Magazine (p. 19): Amanda Maris to Serve as District Court Judge

Judge Maris has continued her work in the community emphasizing efforts to prevent the school-to-prison pipeline and to support our youth.

Made in Durham: Judge Maris engages Durham Public High School students in the Scholars-At-Work Program

The Fayetteville Observer: New diversion program could help teens keep records clean

2018 Events

The Campaign Kickoff: May 24, 2018

Judge Maris kicked off her campaign with special guests, Mayor Steve Schewel and Justice Mike Morgan, on May 24th.

Notice of Candidacy: June 18, 2018

Judge Maris filed her Notice of Candidacy June 18th. (She is pictured with: her predecessor on the bench Rep. Marcia Morey, former N.C. Supreme Court Justice & Court of Appeals Judge Linda Stephens, and her colleague on the District Court Bench in Durham Brian Wilks.)

Endorsements: (To be announced in 2026)
For the 2022 general election, Judge Maris was endorsed by: The Victory Fund, The People's Alliance PAC of Durham, the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, and The North Carolina PBA. For the 2018 general election, Judge Maris was endorsed by: The NC Association of Women Attorneys, Equality NC, The Victory Fund, The People's Alliance PAC of Durham, and the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People.

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