RESUME HIGHLIGHTS

Judge Maris assumed the bench in August 2017 after being commissioned in July by Gov. Roy Cooper. She regularly presides in juvenile court and several other district court courtrooms (traffic, criminal, civil, family, child support & domestic violence) on a weekly rotation. In 2018, she developed a program to expand expunction opportunities and second chances in our courts bringing many local government, court and community partners together for this effort (learn more at The DEAR Program website).

Prior to becoming a judge, Judge Maris was an Assistant Public Defender for nearly 11 years in adult criminal district and superior courts. She also represented juveniles in juvenile delinquency court at the beginning and end of her career. It was a particular passion of hers to advocate for her juvenile and teen clients and the impact of the court system on youth and families is especially significant to Judge Maris.

Judge Maris has prior legal experience in family law, estate planning and civil law. Maris was a volunteer Guardian ad Litem for two years, a family law research assistant, and an adjunct professor of legal writing at N.C. Central University School of Law.

Judge Maris is on the boards of community organizations supporting our youth and students, was a past chair of the Education Team in the Durham People's Alliance, and she was the Assistant Public Defender in the first Misdemeanor Diversion Program in the state for youth ages 16-21.

Judge Maris was a representative to the Durham Crime Cabinet for the Public Defender's Office for 8 years meeting regularly with our local elected officials on issues impacting the justice system including developing a mental health court, probation reform and gun safety, and after becoming a judge, she chaired a Task Force to evaluate court fines and fees and the impact on low-income members of our community.

In 2008, Judge Maris helped found a public expunction clinic in Durham and was nominated in 2014 for the NCBA Chief Justice Award for this work.