Roy A. Dawson Announces Candidacy for District Court Judge in North Carolina’s 9th Judicial District
Attorney Roy A. Dawson has officially filed to run for District Court Judge in North Carolina’s 9th Judicial District, which serves Lenoir, Wayne, and Greene counties. Dawson, a practicing attorney with more than a decade of courtroom experience, says he is running to ensure that local courtrooms remain fair, accessible, and grounded in dignity and respect.
Dawson’s path to the legal profession was far from traditional. Raised in Alamance County, he began working at age fourteen and dropped out of high school at sixteen. He later earned his diploma through night classes and started working various full-time jobs including manufacturing, restaurant kitchens, die casting, and a local oil change shop. “These early jobs taught me discipline, responsibility, and how important it is to treat people with respect,” Dawson said. “Those lessons shape how I practice law and how I serve my community.”
Years later, after helping care for his mother during a serious health condition, Dawson continued his education at Alamance Community College before transferring to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill through the Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program (C-STEP). He earned his law degree from UNC School of Law, where he volunteered with the Innocence Project and completed a year-long internship with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. That experience gave him insight into both prosecution and defense.
Since 2014, Dawson has practiced law throughout the 9th Judicial District, and surrounding counties, handling hundreds of bench trials in both criminal and family court. His practice is evenly balanced between criminal and domestic cases. In 2021, he opened the Law Offices of Roy A. Dawson, P.A., in Kinston. His practice is built on preparation, honesty, and trust.
In 2025, Dawson was one of seven attorneys who sought appointment to the District Court bench following the retirement of Chief District Court Judge Elizabeth A. Heath. In the vote conducted by attorneys of the 9th Judicial District, Dawson received the highest number of votes. Although he was not selected by the Governor, Dawson describes the support of his peers as “one of the greatest honors of my career.”
Dawson remains active in the legal community. He serves on the North Carolina Bar Association’s Family Law Section as Co-Chair of the Equitable Distribution Subcommittee and is a past president of the Lenoir County Bar Association. He also participates in legal education and community outreach efforts. He lives in Lenoir County with his wife, Dayla, and their seven-year-old son. He coaches youth soccer in Kinston and remains actively involved in the community he calls home.
Why He’s Running
“I am running for District Court Judge because I believe every person deserves to be heard and treated with dignity,” Dawson said. “Every case that comes before a judge affects someone’s life. That responsibility must be met with preparation, fairness, and humility. I am ready to serve from day one.”
For more information about Roy A. Dawson’s campaign, visit www.RoyForJudge.com.
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