ROCKINGHAM — One Richmond County lawyer will soon be donning a black robe and wielding a gavel.
Longtime attorney Stephan B. Futrell was recently appointed to the bench last week by Gov. Roy Cooper to fill the spot soon to be vacated by Superior Court Judge Richard Brown.
“I’m very much honored by this, and I look forward to serving the people of this state,” Futrell said. “I appreciate the governor’s confidence.”
Futrell obtained his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University and earned his law degree from Georgetown University.
He began his career as a practicing attorney in 1981 and has been with Kitchin Neal Webb Webb & Futrell, PA since 1985. Futrell has represented the county government for nearly 20 years and previously served as the city attorney for Hamlet.
“I don’t think they could have picked a better person for the job,” said Kenneth Robinette, chairman of the Richmond County Board of Commissioners. “He’s got experience as an attorney, he’s obviously very, very bright, and I know he knows the law as good as anybody.
“I don’t think you could search the world over and find a better person for superior court judge and I’m happy for him and I’m happy the district he’s going to serve because we need people like him,” Robinette continued.
Commissioners will begin the search for a new attorney at its November meeting on Monday.
Superior Court District 16A includes Richmond, Scotland, Anson and Hoke counties.
The governor also appointed District Court Judge Peter Knight to superior court for Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties.
“Our state depends on experienced, dedicated public servants like these appointees to fill critical roles in our justice system,” Cooper said in a statement. “I appreciate their commitment to serving the people of North Carolina.”
