Elizabeth earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and social psychology from Hollins College and her law degree from the Wake Forest University School of Law. She is married to Eric, and they have two children.

Prior to her election, Elizabeth served as an assistant public defender for the Charlotte Public Defender's Office.

Elizabeth Thornton Trosch is currently a district court judge. She was elected in 2008 and is serving her fourth term. For the past 3 years, she has been the chief district court judge.

Candidate website

Believes legal experience is crucial, having "represented over one thousand indigent defendants in both District and Superior Court."

Has "represented over one thousand indigent defendants in both District and Superior Court."

Believes in actively assisting student claimants to preserve their civil rights through legal research, drafting memoranda, and resolving disputes related to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Believes legal experience is crucial, emphasizing research for District Court Judges and drafting judicial rulings and court orders.

Has research experience in drafting judicial rulings and court orders.

The candidate's website says, "State Certified Juvenile Judge"

Presented at the 11th Annual Child Abuse, Neglect & Dependence conference on September 27, 2014, hosted by Maryland Judiciary’s Foster CIP and the US Dept. HHS in Annapolis, MD.

Believes in the importance of trauma-informed legal practice in child welfare and substance abuse cases. Presented on this topic at the ABA Pennsylvania Permanency Conference on June 6, 2014.

Presented on the importance of trauma-informed legal practice in child welfare and substance abuse cases at the ABA Pennsylvania Permanency Conference on June 6, 2014.

- Has "represented over one thousand indigent defendants in both District and Superior Court."
- Believes in actively assisting student claimants to preserve their civil rights through legal research, drafting memoranda, and resolving disputes related to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Has research experience in drafting judicial rulings and court orders.
- Is a state certified juvenile judge.
- Presented at the 11th Annual Child Abuse, Neglect & Dependence conference on September 27, 2014, hosted by Maryland Judiciary’s Foster CIP and the US Dept. HHS in Annapolis, MD.
- Presented on the importance of trauma-informed legal practice in child welfare and substance abuse cases at the ABA Pennsylvania Permanency Conference on June 6, 2014.

Legal Experience

As of June 14, 2024, Elizabeth Thornton Trosch’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

As Chief District Court Judge, implemented backlog reduction and data-driven case management strategies, and coordinated the launch of e-Courts in Mecklenburg County. Believes district court "touches the lives of most of our community" and emphasizes integrity, compassion, and vision.

As Chief District Court Judge, implemented backlog reduction and data-driven case management strategies, and coordinated the launch of e-Courts in Mecklenburg County.

As a judge, led efforts to improve court outcomes, implement trauma-centered services, and launch the Mecklenburg County School-Justice Partnership. Supports procedural fairness and racial justice, leveraging funding for pretrial justice reform and criminal justice debt forgiveness.

As a judge, led efforts to improve court outcomes, implement trauma-centered services, and launch the Mecklenburg County School-Justice Partnership, showing support for procedural fairness and racial justice.

Believes many people are jailed pre-trial due to inability to pay bail, not because they pose a public safety risk. Supports using tools to provide judges with reliable information on defendants' likelihood to appear in court and community safety risk.

Believes many people are jailed pre-trial due to inability to pay bail, not because they pose a public safety risk, and supports using tools to provide judges with reliable information on defendants' likelihood to appear in court and community safety risk.

As a District Court Judge, presided over the Youth Treatment Court since 2010. Supports culturally competent programs and reducing recidivism for non-violent drug offenders.

As a District Court Judge, presided over the Youth Treatment Court since 2010, and supports culturally competent programs and reducing recidivism for non-violent drug offenders.

As Presiding Judge, Mecklenburg County Truancy Court, partnered with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to address chronic truancy by tackling its root causes.

Believes in improving court responses to domestic violence cases and services for victims and perpetrators. As Chair of the Domestic Violence Court Committee, collaborated with court partners to evaluate these responses and services.

Believes in improving court responses to domestic violence cases and services for victims and perpetrators, and as Chair of the Domestic Violence Court Committee, collaborated with court partners to evaluate these responses and services.

As Chair of the Permanency Planning Subcommittee, led efforts to reform the Mecklenburg County Mediation program and improve court hearings in abuse, neglect, and dependency cases.

- As Chief District Court Judge, implemented backlog reduction and data-driven case management strategies, and coordinated the launch of e-Courts in Mecklenburg County.
- As a judge, led efforts to improve court outcomes, implement trauma-centered services, and launch the Mecklenburg County School-Justice Partnership, showing support for procedural fairness and racial justice.
- Believes many people are jailed pre-trial due to inability to pay bail, not because they pose a public safety risk, and supports using tools to provide judges with reliable information on defendants' likelihood to appear in court and community safety risk.
- As a District Court Judge, presided over the Youth Treatment Court since 2010, and supports culturally competent programs and reducing recidivism for non-violent drug offenders.
- As Presiding Judge, Mecklenburg County Truancy Court, partnered with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to address chronic truancy by tackling its root causes.
- Believes in improving court responses to domestic violence cases and services for victims and perpetrators, and as Chair of the Domestic Violence Court Committee, collaborated with court partners to evaluate these responses and services.
- As Chair of the Permanency Planning Subcommittee, led efforts to reform the Mecklenburg County Mediation program and improve court hearings in abuse, neglect, and dependency cases.

Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

Believes in community involvement through research and recommendations to improve responses to domestic violence. As Chair of the Mecklenburg County Domestic Violence Advisory Board, led efforts to assess and address domestic violence impacts.

As Chair of the Mecklenburg County Domestic Violence Advisory Board, led efforts to assess and address domestic violence impacts.

Believes in community involvement through interdisciplinary collaboration to implement supportive school disciplinary practices. As Co-Chair of the School Disciplinary Policy Council, worked to reduce exclusionary discipline and its disparate impact on children of color.

As Co-Chair of the School Disciplinary Policy Council, worked to reduce exclusionary discipline and its disparate impact on children of color.

Believes community involvement, including volunteer work and local organizations, is essential for youth empowerment. As a Juvenile Court official, sponsored the Youth Empowerment Fair to connect youth with business professionals.

As a Juvenile Court official, sponsored the Youth Empowerment Fair to connect youth with business professionals.

Believes community involvement is crucial for preventing child fatalities. As Judicial Liaison, Mecklenburg County Child Fatality Prevention and Protection Team, reviewed child fatalities and developed recommendations to reduce preventable deaths.

As Judicial Liaison, Mecklenburg County Child Fatality Prevention and Protection Team, reviewed child fatalities and developed recommendations to reduce preventable deaths.

Believes community involvement is essential and supports local organizations through grants for necessary supplies. As board chairwoman, received a $5,000 grant from the NCBA Endowment Foundation for Larry King’s Clubhouse.

Believes community involvement is essential and supports local organizations through grants for necessary supplies, and as board chairwoman, received a $5,000 grant from the NCBA Endowment Foundation for Larry King’s Clubhouse.

- As Chair of the Mecklenburg County Domestic Violence Advisory Board, led efforts to assess and address domestic violence impacts.
- As Co-Chair of the School Disciplinary Policy Council, worked to reduce exclusionary discipline and its disparate impact on children of color.
- As a Juvenile Court official, sponsored the Youth Empowerment Fair to connect youth with business professionals.
- As Judicial Liaison, Mecklenburg County Child Fatality Prevention and Protection Team, reviewed child fatalities and developed recommendations to reduce preventable deaths.
- Believes community involvement is essential and supports local organizations through grants for necessary supplies, and as board chairwoman, received a $5,000 grant from the NCBA Endowment Foundation for Larry King’s Clubhouse.

Community Involvement

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Elizabeth Thornton Trosch

The candidate's website says, "Guest Lecturer on The Role of The Courts in Domestic Violence Cases, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Criminal Justice, Spring 2011, Charlotte, NC"

Co-presented on "Polyvictimization and Trauma-Informed Legal Advocacy" at the 15th ABA National Conference on Children and the Law.

The candidate's website says, "Researched legal issues on immigration law and legal ethics"

Believes in sharing a judge’s perspective on professional responsibility through guest lectures. As a guest lecturer at Charlotte School of Law in Fall 2010, provided insights on legal experience and education.

The candidate's website says, "Presenter, to Chinese judicial delegation including the Special Counseling Expert to the Supreme People’s Court & Supreme People’s Procuratorate of China, the Executive Chief Prosecutor of Shapingba District People’s Procuratorate, a Professor/Vice President – SWUPL, Special Counseling Expert of the People’s Procuratorate of Chongqing, Chief Prosecutor, Shapingba District People’s Procuratorate, Professors of Law at SWUPL & Sichuan University School of Law on the effectiveness of Drug Treatment Courts and the Model Juvenile Court System"

Believes community involvement, including volunteer work and local organizations, motivates disadvantaged youth to dream big and explore new career paths. As District Court Judge, hosted a fair with diverse leaders and Juvenile Justice stakeholders to inspire youth.

The candidate's website says, "Larry King’s Clubhouse opened in July 2001 as The Court Clubhouse to meet the needs of children and families appearing in court. With the opening of the new courthouse in January of 2007, the childcare center was named after and dedicated to Larry King, who died of lung cancer in 2005 at the age of 62. Mr. King was executive director of the independent non-profit Council for Children for 18 years. The reason for having a child care center in the courthouse is due to the fact that children can often be a distraction in the courtroom. In addition, children should not be exposed to graphic testimony and/or evidence in the courtroom. To that end, this free, drop-in child care center serves two purposes: Larry King’s Clubhouse is a safe, secure, and enriching place for children whose family members are conducting business at the courthouse or serving as jurors. It also serves as a point of access to link children and families to needed community services. While Larry King’s Clubhouse is a private, non-profit, the bulk of its funding for operations and facilities comes from Mecklenburg County for the facilities and operational costs. The center served 7,882 children during FY 2010, and has served over 917 children during July, 2010."

The candidate's website says, "Judge Elizabeth Trosch joins CMPD Chief of Police Kerr Putney, D.A. Spencer Merriweather, PD Michael Kabakoff, and Judge Wiggins at community forum on crime"

The candidate's website says, "Presenter and Panelist; 9th Annual Youth Violence Prevention Conference “Invisible Scars: The Emotional Impact of Exposure to Violence on Our Youth”, April 11, 2014, Charlotte AHEC, Friendship Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC"

Believes in fostering community involvement through partnerships among tribal, state, urban Indian, and non-profit organizations.

Elizabeth Thornton Trosch attended Hollins College, where she graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Philosophy and Social Psychology in May 1998, and also received Philosophy Departmental Honors. She is married to Eric C. Trosch since August 17, 2002, and they have two children, Alec and Joseph. There is no information available about where they currently live, what church they attend, or further details of her family life.

Elizabeth Thornton Trosch served as a Residential Counselor at Lutheran Family Services in Hendersonville, NC from 1998 to 1999. She is a recipient of Lawyers Weekly’s Women of Justice Award for Public Officials in November 2012.

As of July 8, 2024, Elizabeth Thornton Trosch’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes in improving judicial administration by implementing automated systems for better pretrial decision-making. As a judge, works on reducing racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal justice system.

The candidate's website says, "Researched and co-wrote grant proposal that achieved funding for innovative family court mediation pilot program, which was later adopted statewide by the NC legislature"

- District Court judges hear civil, criminal, and juvenile cases. Civil cases dealing with divorce, child custody, and child support are heard in District Court. 
- Under the District Court, the magistrate can try small claims cases ($10,000 or less), landlord eviction cases, and suits for recovery of personal property. A magistrate is an independent judicial officer, recognized by the North Carolina Constitution as an officer of the district court. 
- District Court Judges are elected for a four-year term. Elections are partisan. 