Jeffrey Larkin Nieman

Jeffrey Larkin "Jeff" Nieman is the incumbent District Attorney for North Carolina’s Prosecutorial District 18, which covers Orange and Chatham counties, and is running for re‑election as a Democrat in the 2026 general election. The District Attorney serves as the chief law‑enforcement officer for the district, overseeing the prosecution of criminal cases, managing assistant district attorneys and support staff, and setting policy priorities for the office ⁷. Because no Republican candidate filed for the race, Nieman is expected to take office unopposed ⁶.

Nieman is a lifelong resident of the Chapel Hill area and has spent more than 16 years working within the criminal‑justice system of District 18. He began his career as an intern in the district attorney’s office and was hired as an assistant district attorney in 2006, serving under longtime DA Jim Woodall ¹². Over his tenure he helped launch several innovative programs, including the Outreach Court in Orange County, which diverts homeless individuals to community resources rather than jail, and the Driver’s License Restoration Project, aimed at helping people regain driving privileges after a felony conviction ¹². He also co‑founded a juvenile crime‑rehabilitation court for 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds to keep them out of adult prosecution ¹².

In the 2022 election, Nieman defeated fellow assistant DA Kayley Taber with 60 % of the vote, becoming the district’s top prosecutor. He was sworn in to serve the remainder of Woodall’s term, which ends on December 31, 2026 ¹²⁷. During his first term, Nieman has emphasized community‑focused reforms. He pledged to make implicit‑bias training mandatory for all DA staff, treat drug abuse as a public‑health issue rather than solely a criminal matter, and pursue policies that reduce the criminalization of poverty ⁷¹².

Nieman’s platform centers on “Community – Equity – Justice.” He advocates for greater community involvement in the justice process, equitable treatment of defendants and victims, and systemic reforms to address racial disparities ¹¹. Endorsements from more than 70 local attorneys and 36 current and former government officials underscore his broad support across the district ⁸.

Beyond his prosecutorial duties, Nieman is active in local efforts to improve racial equity, end homelessness, and empower youth. He continues to promote the Outreach Court model and other diversion programs as alternatives to incarceration ¹². His stated priority for the upcoming term is to end the criminalization of poverty, arguing that the current system disproportionately punishes low‑income individuals ¹².

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