Justice is meted out in a fair and impartial manner regardless of race’

While educators have come to the defense of our school system following District Attorney Robert Evans recent remarks at a Juneteenth event no court official has written in defense of our judicial system. Therefore, this letter.

The 7th Judicial District is comprised of Edgecombe, Nash and Wilson counties. It includes all Superior Courts, District Courts and Juvenile Courts together with all personnel required for the system to function including Judges, Assistant District Attorneys, Clerks of Courts, Probation and Parole Officers, Community Service Coordinators, Bailiffs and others.

I have practiced law in this district since 1977 in both the Superior and District Courts of all three counties. I interact with court personnel almost every working day of my life. I see justice carried out in our courts all the time.

As citizens of this district you can be proud of your justice system and the personnel who serve you. Justice is meted out in a fair and impartial manner regardless of race. No one is under "attack."

The people who make up your court system are dedicated hard-working professionals who strive to apply the rule of law fairly and without partiality. Of all the women and men currently serving this district I have never seen (or heard of) any individual brought before the court that has been treated a particular way because of race.

Your Superior and District Court Judges are all individuals of wisdom and integrity whose decisions and judgments are fair and impartial. Assistant District Attorneys are dedicated lawyers who fairly and impartially prosecute the criminal court dockets on behalf of all of us.

Our Clerks, Probation Officers, Community Service Coordinators and Bailiffs all do an excellent (and impartial) job.

So Citizens of the 7th Judicial District you can rest assured that your court system is in good hands and that justice is administered fairly, impartially and without regard to race.

JOSEPH M. HESTER JR.

Rocky Mount