Myra Leake Griffin

Myra Leake Griffin is the Democratic candidate for the North Carolina 1st Superior Court Division, Judicial District 16B Seat 2, on the November 3, 2026 general ballot. She won the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary with 68.9% of the vote (32,372 votes) against Ameshia Cooper Chester, and now faces the Republican nominee in the general election ¹. Griffin currently serves as Vice‑Chair of the North Carolina Industrial Commission, a quasi‑judicial agency that adjudicates workers’ compensation and tort claims, a role she has held since her 2019 appointment as Vice‑Chair following a 2018 gubernatorial appointment to the full commission ⁸⁴.

Born and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Griffin moved to Durham 31 years ago, where she has raised a family and built her public‑service career ⁴⁷. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law ⁴⁷. While in law school she interned with the Land Loss Prevention Project, assisting farmers in crisis, an experience she cites as shaping her commitment to equitable justice ⁴⁷.

Griffin’s professional trajectory began as a law clerk and administrative hearing officer at the Industrial Commission, followed by service as an Assistant Attorney General representing the Commission statewide in civil litigation and criminal appeals. In 2005 she was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Industrial Commission, where she presided over contested workers’ compensation and tort claims, issuing written decisions and managing pre‑trial proceedings—functions that mirror the duties of a Superior Court judge ⁴⁷. Governor Roy Cooper appointed her to the full Commission in 2018 to fill a vacancy; the General Assembly confirmed her appointment, and she was re‑confirmed for a second six‑year term beginning in 2022, serving currently as Vice‑Chair ³⁴⁷.

Beyond her commission work, Griffin contributed to community oversight as a member of the Durham Police Civilian Review Board from June 2018 to June 2022, reviewing citizen complaints and internal investigations, which she says deepened her understanding of how legal decisions affect everyday lives ⁸. She also remains active in local civic organizations, including the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, which has endorsed her candidacy ⁶¹².

Griffin’s campaign platform emphasizes “Fair Courts, Strong Community.” She advocates for a justice system that provides fairness without exception, links civil justice to economic justice, and seeks timely, transparent court operations ⁴⁸. Endorsements from prominent figures such as former Chief Justice Cheri Beasley, former Durham Mayor Steve Schewel, State Senator Natalie Murdock, and State Representative Zack Hawkins underscore her broad support across the legal and political spectrum ¹⁵⁶.

If elected, Griffin intends to bring her two‑decades of quasi‑judicial experience, her record of impartial decision‑making, and her community‑focused philosophy to the Superior Court bench, aiming to ensure that every litigant receives a fair hearing and that the courts remain accessible, compassionate, and trusted by Durham residents.

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