Bright Spot

Herald Staff Report

ROANOKE RAPIDS—  “My job is to make sure everyone is treated fairly under our laws, the court is run efficiently and to uphold the Constitution,” explained Chief District Court Judge Brenda Green Branch.

She paused and then added with determination, “And to set an example as I oversee the court system and look toward the future.”

Branch, who was re-elected to the bench unopposed in November, was named chief judge in August when Judge H. Paul McCoy retired. McCoy was a popular and innovative chief judge and Branch is carrying on that tradition.

In an interview with the Daily Herald, she talked about her biggest challenge. “We are becoming so overwhelmed with new types of crimes, new types of defendants and rarely will you have enough staff and resources,” she explained. She worries that the courts are handling more and more younger defendants. “You have to deal punishment but you must also have the resources to rehabilitate.”

The judiciary also faces issues of space and providing legal and interpreter services for defendants. “And all of this comes as our state’s resources are limited ... We are often the last to get funding,” Branch said.

But from Branch’s perspective the future is full of challenges and potential. She remembers working at Champion in the mill and then eventually earning a college degree and heading to law school.”

She was planning on private practice but the need for insurance and a steady paycheck led her to the prosecutor’s office and eventually the bench.

“Today, I want to be fair, firm and approachable,” she said.

Background

According to a press release, the duties of chief district court judge include arranging schedules and assigning judges for sessions of district courts; arranging or supervising the calendaring of non-criminal matters for trial or hearing; supervising the clerk of superior court in the discharge of the clerical functions of the district court; assigning matters to magistrates and assigning them to temporary duty during an emergency; making arrangements with proper authorities for the drawing of the civil court jury panels and determining which sessions of district court shall be jury sessions; arranging for the reporting of civil cases by court reporters or other authorized means; arranging sessions for the trial of specialized cases, including traffic, domestic relations, and other types of cases, and assigning district judges to preside over these sessions so as to permit maximum practicable specialization by individual judges; and designation of another district judge of the district as acting chief district judge, to act during the absence or disability of the chief district judge. To assist her in the administration of these duties, Judge Branch brought on board Penny Aycock as trial court coordinator. Aycock formerly worked in the Halifax County District Attorney’s Office.

Branch has several new initiatives planned. She has already initiated a new dress code for parties coming into the courtroom and is revising the policy for granting continuances. Beginning in early 2009, lunch’n learn sessions will be offered to the local bar that will provide continuing legal education (CLE) credits.

Branch is a member of many community organizations and is dedicated to improving the lives of the citizens of Halifax County and most especially its young people. Many of Branch’s extracurricular activities involve working with community youth including the Truancy Diversion Project, youth adviser at her church, and youth motivational speaker for area churches and school programs.

Branch has lived in Halifax County for most of her adult life. She is the wife of George Branch and the mother of Alisa Branch, a graduate student at North Carolina A&T State University, and Marquette Branch, a junior at North Carolina State University.