Eula E Reid

Eula Reid is the Democratic candidate for the North Carolina Superior Court, District 1, Seat 2 in the 2026 general election. A retired Superior Court judge, Reid would seek election to complete the unexpired term of Judge Jerry Tillett, which ends Dec. 31, 2026, and then run for a full term if appointed.

Reid grew up in Elizabeth City and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in criminal justice from Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) before attending law school. After graduating, she worked at a local gas station where a chance encounter with attorney Harold Barnes led to a secretarial position at his firm, eventually advancing to office manager and paralegal before pursuing her legal education.

Her judicial career began when Governor Roy Cooper appointed her in April 2021 to fill the term of retired Superior Court Judge J.C. Cole. Reid ran for the permanent seat in 2022 but was defeated by Republican Andrew Womble. In May 2024, Governor Josh Stein appointed her as Superior Court Judge for North Carolina’s First Judicial District, making her the first woman to hold that position in the seven‑county district. Although she has since retired, she continues to serve as an emergency Superior Court judge when called upon.

Reid is known for her commitment to fairness, impartiality, and community outreach. She regularly opens her courtroom to student interns to provide insight into the judicial system and emphasizes a philosophy of “success needs no explanation, and failure has none.” Her campaign finances show modest contributions, with total receipts of $7,772 and expenditures of $8,213 as reported by Transparency USA.

If appointed and elected, Reid would bring her experience as a trailblazer for women and African‑American judges in the district, aiming to continue serving the citizens of North Carolina’s First Judicial District with integrity and compassion.

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