The Gaston Gazette, Meet Gaston County's new District Court Judge

Holden lives in Gastonia with his wife Andrea and their 2 children. He earned a degree in political science from Appalachian State University and a law degree from the Charlotte School of Law. The family attends City Church in Gastonia.

Holden has been an attorney specializing in family law for over 10 years.

Holden B. Clark is currently a district court judge. He was appointed in 2024 and serving his first term while running for official election.

Candidate website

Believes legal education and experience are crucial for guiding families through challenging times. Said, "skill and compassion" are essential in a legal career focused on family law.

Believes legal education and experience are crucial for guiding families through challenging times, saying, "Skill and compassion" are essential in a legal career focused on family law.

Believes legal experience and education are crucial for serving his community effectively. Supports using his decade of family law experience to fight for justice in Gaston County.

- Believes legal education and experience are crucial for guiding families through challenging times, saying, "Skill and compassion" are essential in a legal career focused on family law.
- Has a decade of family law experience.

Legal Experience

Believes in the need for accountability within the judicial system and pledges to uphold the highest standards of transparency and impartiality. Plans to promote systemic checks and balances to prevent abuses of power.

Believes in the need for accountability within the judicial system and pledges to uphold the highest standards of transparency and impartiality, and plans to promote systemic checks and balances to prevent abuses of power.

- Believes in the need for accountability within the judicial system and pledges to uphold the highest standards of transparency and impartiality, and plans to promote systemic checks and balances to prevent abuses of power.

Ethics & Conduct

Plans to reduce court delays and improve efficiency by using technology, streamlining procedures, and managing caseloads effectively.

Believes in making the court system accessible to everyone and reducing unnecessary delays and complexities. Supports the idea that an efficient court system is a just court system.

Believes in making the court system accessible to everyone and reducing unnecessary delays and complexities, and supports the idea that an efficient court system is a just court system.

Supports improving access to justice by advocating for community education on legal rights and collaborating with local organizations to provide legal assistance.

Believes in working closely with local law enforcement to ensure crimes are dealt with swiftly and justly. Emphasizes that compassion and understanding do not equate to leniency for lawbreakers.

Believes in working closely with local law enforcement to ensure crimes are dealt with swiftly and justly, and emphasizes that compassion and understanding do not equate to leniency for lawbreakers.

- Plans to reduce court delays and improve efficiency by using technology, streamlining procedures, and managing caseloads effectively.
- Believes in making the court system accessible to everyone and reducing unnecessary delays and complexities, and supports the idea that an efficient court system is a just court system.
- Supports improving access to justice by advocating for community education on legal rights and collaborating with local organizations to provide legal assistance.
- Believes in working closely with local law enforcement to ensure crimes are dealt with swiftly and justly, and emphasizes that compassion and understanding do not equate to leniency for lawbreakers.

Judicial Administration

Believes judges should "uphold the law, not create it," and opposes judicial activism by ensuring decisions are based solely on the law and facts.

Believes judges should "uphold the law, not create it," and opposes judicial activism.

Believes in judicial restraint, upholding the rule of law, and preventing judicial overreach. Supports maintaining law and order and upholding constitutional rights.

Believes in judicial restraint, upholding the rule of law, and preventing judicial overreach.

Believes in upholding constitutional rights, including free speech, the right to bear arms, and religious freedom. Plans to ensure the law respects and upholds the Constitution in his courtroom and the broader legal system.

Believes in upholding constitutional rights, including free speech, the right to bear arms, and religious freedom.

Believes fairness is essential in the judicial system and supports impartial, objective application of the law.

Believes in family-focused judicial practices, supporting mediation and restorative justice to reduce adversarial disputes. Plans to prioritize children's needs in legal decisions to minimize harm.

Believes in family-focused judicial practices, supporting mediation and restorative justice to reduce adversarial disputes, and plans to prioritize children's needs in legal decisions to minimize harm.

Believes compassion is crucial in the justice system, striving to make his courtroom a place of empathy and understanding while upholding the law.

Believes in "justice for all" through a judicial philosophy that balances accountability, fairness, and compassion.

- Believes judges should "uphold the law, not create it," and opposes judicial activism.
- Believes in judicial restraint, upholding the rule of law, and preventing judicial overreach.
- Believes in upholding constitutional rights, including free speech, the right to bear arms, and religious freedom.
- Believes fairness is essential in the judicial system and supports impartial, objective application of the law.
- Believes in family-focused judicial practices, supporting mediation and restorative justice to reduce adversarial disputes, and plans to prioritize children's needs in legal decisions to minimize harm.
- Believes compassion is crucial in the justice system, striving to make his courtroom a place of empathy and understanding while upholding the law.
- Believes in "justice for all" through a judicial philosophy that balances accountability, fairness, and compassion.

Judicial Philosophy

As of June 14, 2024, Holden B. Clark’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Community Involvement

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Holden B. Clark

Holden B. Clark lives in Gastonia with his wife Andrea and their two children. He holds a degree in Political Science from Appalachian State University and is an alumnus of Charlotte School of Law. Holden and his family are attendees of City Church in Gastonia.

As of July 8, 2024, Holden B. Clark’s website did not contain information on this issue.

The candidate's website says, "treated equally under the law. With his extensive experience as a family law"

Believes in the importance of applying the law through extensive legal experience and education. Supports a legal career dedicated to understanding and implementing the law effectively.

The candidate's website says, "Holden Clark, as a District Court Judge, can promise to work closely with local law"

Believes in "always ensuring that the law respects and upholds the Constitution."

Believes in protecting constitutional rights, including "the right to free speech" and "to bear arms." Supports judicial restraint and strict constitutional interpretation.

The candidate's website says, "Fairness is at the heart of our judicial system. It is the fundamental principle that"

Believes community involvement is crucial for a justice system that serves Gaston County. Supports volunteering, donations, and sharing their vision.

The candidate's website says, "Justice isn't just about the courtroom; it's about building safe and thriving communities for our families. It's about upholding the law with steadfast resolve, maintaining order, and fostering an environment of accountability and fairness."

- 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. 