In the Superior Court Judge District 4A race, incumbent and appointee Albert D. Kirby Jr. was defeated by challenger Henry L. Stevens IV.

The Republican candidate received 62.4 percent (46,918 total votes) of the vote, while Kirby, the Democrat on the ballot, was at 37.5 percent (28,216 votes). He comes from a lineage of attorneys and judges, which guided his decision towards the profession. After the election, he thanked everyone for the support throughout the election campaign.

“It has been a very long and challenging year since the passing of my friend and mentor, Judge William Douglas Parsons, and I am elated that the citizens of Sampson, Duplin, Jones and Onslow Counties have elected me to serve in the seat on the NC Superior Court that Doug held with such honor and distinction,” Stevens stated. “Thanks to all of you for your support, encouragement and votes, as well as for the hard work and sacrifice that many of you eagerly provided. I am blessed to call you my friends. I would also like to publicly thank NC Superior Court Judge Albert Kirby Jr. for his service on the bench; his continued friendship; and especially for the graciousness he has shown toward me throughout this process. Thanks again, and may God Bless you all.”

Stevens, a Duplin County native, is now a district court judge for the 4A/4B Judicial District of Duplin, Jones, Sampson and Onslow counties. Former Gov. Jim Hunt appointed Stevens in 1999. He was re-elected to the seat in 2016. Outside of that role, Stevens serves as State Staff Judge Advocate of the North Carolina National Guard. After graduating from high school, he earned degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Regent University School of Law. Stevens also spent many years serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.

In Sampson County, Stevens collected 58.9 percent of the vote, and Kirby received 41 percent. Stevens also won other counties east of Sampson. In Duplin, he was at 62 percent, with Kirby at 37.9 percent. About 60 percent of voters in Jones County marked their ballots for Stevens, while another 42 percent selected Kirby. For Onslow County, he amassed 35.1 percent of voters, which was less than Stevens’ amount of 64.8 percent.

Kirby was appointed to the position in 2018 by Gov. Roy Cooper after the passing of Judge Doug Parsons. The Clinton native grew up on a tobacco farm and graduated from Clinton High School. He later earned degrees from Wake Forest University and Campbell University School of Law, before opening a private law practice.

He served as an assistant district attorney in Fayetteville and Pitt County, where he ran for Superior Court Judge. For two decades, Kirby served as the board attorney for Clinton City Schools. Kirby also served the residents of Sampson as a county commissioner for seven years.

Kirby
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_Albert-Kirby-1.jpgKirby

Stevens
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_Stevens-1.jpegStevens
Takes 62 percent of vote to beat appointee Kirby

By Chase Jordan

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Reach Chase Jordan at 910-249-4617. Follow us on Twitter at @SampsonInd and like us on Facebook.