Name as it appears on the ballot: Keith Gregory

Campaign website: judgekeithgregory.com
Phone number: 919-829-1195
Email: [email protected]
Years lived in the district: Lived in Cary over 20 years

Keith Gregory – N.C. Superior Court 10D, Seat 1

Keith Gregory has lived in Cary for over 20 years.

Keith Gregory - N.C. Superior Court 10D, Seat 1

Career

Before his appointment to the court, Gregory was a senior partner at the law firm of Gregory and McClinton, PLLC in Raleigh, North Carolina. He also previously served as an assistant public defender in Cumberland County and as an assistant district attorney for Wake County.

Keith O. Gregory

Keith was previously a senior partner at Gregory and McClinton, PLLC in Raleigh and served as an assistant public defender in Cumberland County and an assistant district attorney for Wake County.

Keith O. Gregory - Ballotpedia

Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, appointed Gregory to his Superior Court post in May 2018. Voters elected him to an eight-year term later that year. Former Gov. Bev Perdue, also a Democrat, appointed Gregory as a Wake County District Court judge in 2010.

Judge rejects Democrats’ bid to block We the People Party from NC ballot

Gregory was a district court judge for the 10th Judicial District, serving Wake County, from 2010 to 2018.[4] He was appointed to the court by former Governor Bev Perdue in February 2010.[5]

Former Gov. Bev Perdue, also a Democrat, appointed Gregory as a Wake County District Court judge in 2010. He won elections to that post in 2010 and 2014.

Keith was appointed to a Superior Court judgeship in May 2018 and was elected to an eight-year term later that year. He previously served as a district court judge in the 10th Judicial District, which serves Wake County, from 2010 to 2018, and was elected to that post in 2010 and 2014.

Judge rejects Democrats' bid to block We the People Party from NC ...

2026 North Carolina General Election

2. What do you believe qualifies you to serve as a judge?

I brought 15 years of trial experience as a criminal defense attorney, Assistant Public Defender, and Assistant District Attorney to the Wake County District Court bench when I was appointed and elected in 2010. After serving 8 years presiding over criminal and civil court as a District Court Judge, I was appointed by Governor Cooper to serve on the Superior Court bench.

Served as a senior partner at Gregory and McClinton, PLLC in Raleigh before his court appointment.

Served as a superior court judge following his appointment by Governor Cooper.

As a superior court judge, he oversees cases involving criminal felonies, the administration of wills and estates, evictions of renters, and divorce proceedings, and exercises authority to review and correct the rulings of lower courts.

Served eight years as a district court judge, presiding over criminal and civil cases.

Worked as a criminal defense attorney, assistant public defender, and assistant district attorney before joining the district court bench.

- As a superior court judge, he oversees cases involving criminal felonies, the administration of wills and estates, evictions of renters, and divorce proceedings, and exercises authority to review and correct the rulings of lower courts.
- Served eight years as a district court judge, presiding over criminal and civil cases.
- Worked as a criminal defense attorney, assistant public defender, and assistant district attorney before joining the district court bench.

Legal Experience

6. On any given day, there are North Carolina resident in jail are not because they’ve been convicted of a crime but because they cannot afford their bail. How would you determine whether pretrial incarceration is appropriate? Do you support having a bail schedule with guidelines for how judges should make bail determinations? Why or why not?

The purpose of bond is two-fold: 1) to ensure the appearance of the defendant and 2) to protect the public. I believe each case is different therefore bond should be determined by the two factors above and the facts that dictate.

10. Do you support restorative justice practices prior to sentencing? If so, please explain what sort of practices you support and in what types of cases? Who should be eligible?

If Diversion Programs are available I believe those that are eligible should be allowed to enroll in such programs.

Supports individualized bond determinations that consider court appearances, public safety, and the facts of each case.

Supports allowing eligible people to enroll in available diversion programs.

- Supports individualized bond determinations that consider court appearances, public safety, and the facts of each case.
- Supports allowing eligible people to enroll in available diversion programs.

Judicial Administration

3. In a sentence, how would you define your judicial philosophy?

In making any decision, a judge should always be fair and impartial to both sides.

4. How do you define yourself politically? How do your political beliefs affect your judicial approach?

I am a registered Democrat, and will appear on the ballot as such, but I regret that judicial races have become partisan. I don’t allow my political beliefs to affect my judicial approach, and my apolitical approach to the administration of justice has earned praise and endorsements from both sides of the political aisle. I’m proud to have earned the support of individuals from all parties, as well as unaffiliated voters.

8. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, black people in North Carolina are incarcerated at six times the rate of white people, despite the state being majority white. What responsibility do you think judges hold in addressing racial disparities in our criminal justice system, and what would you do to address these inequities?

My job will always be to be fair and impartial to all. As an African-American male I recognize the problem of mass incarceration of black men imposes. Racial disparities exist in our criminal justice system however I believe a judge must be fair and impartial regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or party affiliation.

9. In some cases, individuals who fail to appear in court for traffic violations are arrested and placed in jail, even if there is an arguably valid reason for the failure to appear. These arrests remain on the person’s record. Do you believe judges should ever overlook failures to appear for things like traffic violations? If so, in what circumstances? If not, why not? 

I believe Judges should follow the law.

Says judges should be fair and impartial, without allowing political beliefs or personal characteristics to affect their judicial approach.

- Says judges should be fair and impartial, without allowing political beliefs or personal characteristics to affect their judicial approach.
- Believes judges should follow the law.

Judicial Philosophy

As of January 5, 2026, Keith Gregory did not have a website or any information online.

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

Keith Gregory

- Served as a superior court judge following his appointment by Governor Cooper.
- Served eight years as a district court judge, presiding over criminal and civil cases.
- Worked as a criminal defense attorney, assistant public defender, and assistant district attorney before joining the district court bench.

As of January 5, 2026, Keith Gregory’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Education

“Gregory received his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and his J.D. from the North Carolina Central University School of Law.”

Keith Gregory earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and a law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law.

Career

“Before his appointment to the court, Gregory was a senior partner at the law firm of Gregory and McClinton, PLLC in Raleigh, North Carolina. He also previously served as an assistant public defender in Cumberland County and as an assistant district attorney for Wake County.”

Keith previously worked as a senior partner at the law firm of Gregory and McClinton, PLLC in Raleigh, and as an assistant public defender in Cumberland County and an assistant district attorney for Wake County.

As a senior partner at Gregory and McClinton, PLLC, provided legal advice and representation to clients.

As an assistant public defender in Cumberland County, represented criminal defendants who could not afford an attorney.

As an assistant district attorney for Wake County, prosecuted cases under state law on behalf of the district attorney's office.

Question: “In a sentence, how would you define your judicial philosophy?”

“In making any decision, a judge should always be fair and impartial to both sides.”

This was a candidate-authored response in an October 2018 election questionnaire. A targeted search for newer statements found no contradictory position; a 2025 interview also reported Gregory describing judges’ duty as fairness and impartiality.

Question: “How do you define yourself politically? How do your political beliefs affect your judicial approach?”

“I am a registered Democrat, and will appear on the ballot as such, but I regret that judicial races have become partisan. I don’t allow my political beliefs to affect my judicial approach, and my apolitical approach to the administration of justice has earned praise and endorsements from both sides of the political aisle.”

This was a candidate-authored response in an October 2018 election questionnaire. A targeted search for newer statements found no contradictory position.

Question: “On any given day, there are North Carolina resident in jail are not because they’ve been convicted of a crime but because they cannot afford their bail. How would you determine whether pretrial incarceration is appropriate? Do you support having a bail schedule with guidelines for how judges should make bail determinations? Why or why not?”

“The purpose of bond is two-fold: 1) to ensure the appearance of the defendant and 2) to protect the public. I believe each case is different therefore bond should be determined by the two factors above and the facts that dictate.”

This was a candidate-authored response in an October 2018 election questionnaire. A targeted search found no newer contradictory statement.

Question: “Do you support restorative justice practices prior to sentencing? If so, please explain what sort of practices you support and in what types of cases? Who should be eligible?”

“If Diversion Programs are available I believe those that are eligible should be allowed to enroll in such programs.”

This was a candidate-authored response in an October 2018 election questionnaire. A targeted search found no newer contradictory statement.

Believes judges should follow the law when handling failures to appear for traffic violations.

Believes judges should be fair and impartial to both sides in every decision.

Regrets partisan judicial elections and says political beliefs do not affect judicial decision-making.

Believes bond decisions should be individualized based on court appearance, public safety, and the facts of each case.

Believes eligible people should be allowed to enroll in available diversion programs.

- Believes judges should be fair and impartial to both sides in every decision.
- Regrets partisan judicial elections and says political beliefs do not affect judicial decision-making.
- Believes bond decisions should be individualized based on court appearance, public safety, and the facts of each case.
- Believes eligible people should be allowed to enroll in available diversion programs.

Education

Gregory received his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and his J.D. from the North Carolina Central University School of Law.

Question: “What do you believe qualifies you to serve as a judge?”

I brought 15 years of trial experience as a criminal defense attorney, Assistant Public Defender, and Assistant District Attorney to the Wake County District Court bench when I was appointed and elected in 2010. After serving 8 years presiding over criminal and civil court as a District Court Judge, I was appointed by Governor Cooper to serve on the Superior Court bench.

Keith Gregory previously worked as a criminal defense attorney, assistant public defender, and assistant district attorney.

Keith O. Gregory is a judge for Judicial District 10D of the North Carolina 3rd Superior Court Division. He assumed office in 2018. His current term ends on December 31, 2026.

Gregory was a district court judge for the 10th Judicial District, serving Wake County, from 2010 to 2018. He was appointed to the court by former Governor Bev Perdue in February 2010.

Keith currently serves as a Superior Court judge for Judicial District 10D, a position he assumed in 2018. He previously served as a district court judge for the 10th Judicial District, serving Wake County, from 2010 to 2018.

Serves as a North Carolina superior court judge in Judicial District 10D.

Worked as a criminal defense attorney, representing defendants at trial.

Served as an assistant public defender, providing legal representation to criminal defendants.

Served as an assistant district attorney, prosecuting criminal cases.

Said judges should be fair and impartial to both sides in every decision.

Said political beliefs do not affect his judicial approach and regretted that judicial races have become partisan.

Believes bond decisions should be based on public safety, ensuring defendants appear in court, and the facts of each case.

Said he should not comment for or against the cash-bail system while serving as a superior court judge.

Supports eligible people enrolling in available diversion programs before sentencing.

Keith Gregory has a bachelor 27s degree from the University of Virginia and a law degree from North Carolina Central University. He has lived in Cary for over 20 years.

Before taking the bench, Keith was a senior partner at the law firm of Gregory and McClinton, PLLC in Raleigh. He also previously served as an assistant public defender in Cumberland County and as an assistant district attorney for Wake County.

Keith is currently a judge for Judicial District 10D of the North Carolina 3rd Superior Court Division. He was appointed to the court by Governor Roy Cooper in May 2018. He was previously a district court judge for the 10th Judicial District from 2010 to 2018. He won elections to that post in 2010 and 2014.

As a district court judge, oversaw civil and criminal cases, including juvenile court, and granted search and arrest warrants.

Said, "In making any decision, a judge should always be fair and impartial to both sides."

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

- The Superior Court Judge hears both civil and criminal cases. Superior Court Judges try civil cases involving more than $10,000. Superior Court Judge hear appeals of misdemeanors and infraction cases that were first heard in the District Court,
- They make decisions on bail, meaning a Superior Court Judge could keep a non-dangerous person in jail before they are convicted by setting a high bail.
- In each district (except Wake County), the most senior judge in years of service is designated the senior resident superior court judge. They are responsible for various administrative duties, including appointing magistrates and some other court officials, and managing the scheduling of civil cases for trial.
- Superior court judges rotate among the districts within their divisions.  
- The Superior Court Judge is elected for 8-year terms. Elections are partisan.

Trial Judge who hears criminal and civil cases