Chevonne Rene Wallace

Chevonne Rene Wallace is the incumbent North Carolina District Court Judge for Judicial District 16A, Seat 3, and is seeking re‑election in the November 3, 2026 general election as a Democrat. She currently serves on the bench with a term that runs through December 31, 2026, after first being elected in the 2022 cycle ⁹.

Wallace grew up in a judicial family; her mother, Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Tanya Wallace, is a prominent jurist in the same district. Chevonne was sworn in as a District Court Judge on January 3, 2019, becoming the first woman in North Carolina to be sworn in by her own mother, a historic moment highlighted by the Richmond County Daily Journal ⁸. While specific details of her formal education are not provided in the available sources, her early exposure to the legal profession included shadowing a Richmond County attorney during a career‑day event in eighth grade, an experience that sparked her interest in law ¹⁰.

Before joining the bench, Wallace spent nine years as an assistant district attorney in Richmond County, where she handled criminal cases and earned a reputation for thorough knowledge of the law and mentorship of younger attorneys ¹⁰. In 2020 (the article notes she won the seat unopposed on a Tuesday, which aligns with the 2020 primary), she ran unopposed for the District Court seat vacated by retiring Judge Scott Brewer and was elected to the position ¹⁰. Her career progression from prosecutor to judge reflects a deep familiarity with courtroom procedures and a commitment to public service.

As a judge, Wallace has indicated a particular focus on family‑law matters, especially child‑custody disputes and the broader well‑being of children, a priority that intensified after the birth of her daughter Avery ¹⁰. She has described her goal as “making things better” for families appearing before her court. Her tenure also marks a symbolic first: her mother’s swearing‑in of her represents the first mother‑daughter judicial ceremony in the state, underscoring a legacy of female representation in the North Carolina judiciary ⁸¹⁰.

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