THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 24, 1995 TAG: 9506240348
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY LANE DEGREGORY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
With his left hand on his father's Bible and his right held just above his toddler son's tow head, Edgar L. Barnes fulfilled a lifelong dream on Friday.
He became a District Court judge at 3:25 p.m.
At 9 a.m. Monday, he'll begin hearing cases in Currituck County.
``It's what I've always wanted. And I'm ready to jump in behind that bench and get started,'' Barnes said, still smiling broadly after a brief swearing-in ceremony Friday. ``I doubted that this day would come. But I never gave up hope. And now, here I am. It just feels good.
``The thing that makes me feel the best,'' Barnes said, surveying the packed Superior Court at the Dare County Courthouse, ``is the support from all of these people.''
Barnes, 35, should have begun adjudicating cases 18 months ago. But shortly after Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. appointed the Nags Head attorney to the bench, the U.S. Justice Department challenged the state legislature's creation of the new 1st Judicial District seat - which Barnes now holds. Federal judicial officials can comment on new state judgeships if at least 25 percent of the voters in the affected district are minorities.
About 22 percent of voters in North Carolina's seven-county 1st Judicial District are minorities.
Late last month, the Justice Department withdrew its objection.
Barnes will hold his appointed seat until the November 1996 election, when he will face an election to retain the post.
Barnes is one of four District Court judges presiding over the 1st District. Counties he oversees include Pasquotank, Gates, Perquimans, Currituck, Dare, Chowan and Camden.
``I'm proud to be a judge. It's always been my goal. It's taken almost two years now. And everyone's stood beside me,'' Barnes said as more than 100 family members, neighbors and colleagues looked on from the wooden benches, and his wife, Michelle, dabbed moist eyes. ``I dedicate this ceremony in memory of my father, Clyde Barnes, who died about two years ago. He would have been proud to see his son sworn in as judge today. But he'd have been even more proud to see I had so many friends.''
A graduate of North Carolina Central School of Law in Durham and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Barnes practiced law on the Outer Banks for nine years.
He is the nephew of Henson P. Barnes, a Goldsboro attorney who preceded Manteo Democrat Marc Basnight as president pro tem of the state Senate. In an effort to ease overcrowding on District Court dockets, Basnight helped create the judgeship that Barnes assumed.
``Eddie will listen. And he can hear. In this day and age, that's rare, with all the noise going on in the world,'' Henson Barnes said of his nephew during the ceremony. ``Eddie is someone who sincerely listens to what you say. Eddie will show mercy when he can. But it will always follow justice.''
Barnes' former Nags Head law partner, Jerry Tillett, conducted the swearing-in and presented his friend with a new, long, black robe with billowing sleeves.
Tillett, a former legal aide for Basnight, is now a Superior Court Judge.
``Today,'' Tillett said, ``is the culmination of a long and tenacious struggle for what has been a lifelong dream for Edgar.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by DREW C. WILSON, Staff
Edgar L. Barnes addresses an assembly at the Dare County Courthouse
after the crowd - and his wife, Michelle, and son, Graham - watched
his swearing-in ceremony Friday afternoon.
by CNB