Perdue names judge DA for Rocky Mount, Wilson

Rocky Mount, N.C. — Gov. Beverly Perdue on Wednesday named District Judge Robert Evans as district attorney for Nash, Edgecombe and Wilson counties.

District Attorney Howard Boney is retiring after 30 years in office, and Evans will take command as district attorney on Friday.

"Judge Evans has the respect and confidence of the public, law enforcement and attorneys in the Seventh District. The citizens of Edgecombe, Nash and Wilson counties will be well-served and should have every confidence that justice will be administered fairly by District Attorney Evans," Perdue said in a statement.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which lobbied for a minority district attorney, applauded Perdue's choice.

"This is history unfolding before our eyes,” Yolanda Thigpen, Edgecombe County NAACP president, said in a statement, noting Evans will be the first black district attorney in eastern North Carolina.

"This is just the beginning of change in our justice system,” Alonzo Braggs, Wilson NAACP president, said in a statement. “Diversity brings strength, not weakness."

A Rocky Mount native, Evans has served as a district judge since 1999. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law. From 1977 to 1999, he practiced law in Rocky Mount.

He is a former president of the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce, which named him Citizen of the Year in 2007.

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"This is just the beginning of change in our justice system,” Alonzo Braggs, Wilson NAACP president, said in a statement. “Diversity brings strength, not weakness." Uh, just the beginning of change???????????

Seems like I heard something similar to that during the presidential campaign. Some few outspoken people saying we got Obama, he's gonna take care of my house payment and my gas bill. All racial.

This would much less racial tension in this country if the NAACP would just go away. How about we celebrate someone getting a position because they are qualified rather than they are of one ethnic origin or another?

We are supposed to be past all that, yet the NAACP continually tries to stir it.

beachboater
May 1, 2009 2:37 p.m.

Judge Evans will make a great DA. I am sure there are those who will think he was appointed because of pressure and comments from the NAACP. Some folks just don't want to believe that these decisions can be made without such controversial imput. Good luck Judge Evans......from a white resident of the judicial district who is proud to know that you represent the district and ALL of its residents.

m97bgw
April 29, 2009 7:41 p.m.

Why would you step DOWN from judge to DA? This sounds very strange to me.