Amanda Leigh Maris

Current office and 2026 campaign

Amanda Maris is a Democratic Party candidate seeking re-election to the North Carolina District Court for District 14, Seat 6 ¹. She currently holds this office, having been appointed by Governor Roy Cooper in August 2017 and subsequently elected to two terms in 2018 and 2022 ¹⁰⁹. Her current tenure is scheduled to last until December 31, 2026 ⁵.

Maris filed her Notice of Candidacy with the State Board of Elections on December 1, 2025, to seek re-election in the upcoming 2026 general election ⁹. Her campaign committee, The Committee to Elect Amanda Maris, has solicited support for her bid to remain on the bench in Durham ⁷. During her previous campaigns, she received an endorsement from the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund ³⁸.

Background and education

Amanda Maris was appointed to the North Carolina District Court for District 14, Seat 6 by Governor Roy Cooper in August 2017 ¹⁰. She previously served as an assistant public defender in Durham prior to her judicial appointment ¹⁰. The sources provided do not contain information regarding her birthplace, year of birth, upbringing, religion, or specific educational background including schools attended and degrees earned.

Career

Prior to her judicial service, Amanda Maris worked as an assistant public defender in Durham ¹⁰. In 2017, Governor Roy Cooper appointed her to serve as a district court judge for District 14, Seat 6 ¹⁰. She assumed the bench in 2018 ⁷.

During her tenure on the bench, Maris co-founded the Durham Expunction and Restoration (DEAR) Program in 2018, an initiative designed to assist individuals with expunging their criminal records ⁷. The program has been cited as a model for other jurisdictions ⁷. She has also authored legal commentary regarding domestic violence protections for same-sex couples ⁴.

Maris holds the office of North Carolina District Court Judge for District 14, Seat 6, with her current term scheduled to end on December 31, 2026 ⁵. Her professional profile is listed on the North Carolina Judicial Branch website and Trellis.Law ²⁶.

Office history

Amanda Maris was appointed to the North Carolina District Court for District 14, Seat 6 by Governor Roy Cooper in August 2017, serving as an assistant public defender prior to her appointment ¹⁰. She subsequently won election to this seat in the 2018 general election and was re-elected in the 2022 general election ⁹. Her tenure on the bench began in 2024 according to Ballotpedia, though she has served continuously since her initial appointment ¹.

Maris is currently seeking re-election for District Court Judge in District 14, Seat 6 in the 2026 general election ⁹. She filed her Notice of Candidacy with the State Board of Elections on December 1, 2025 ⁹. As of May 2026, she remains a candidate for this office, and the outcome of the upcoming election is unknown ⁹.

Legislative record and accomplishments

As a District Court Judge, Maris does not sponsor legislation or cast legislative votes, as these functions are reserved for elected members of the North Carolina General Assembly. Her policy influence is exercised through judicial rulings and court administration. In her first year on the bench in 2018, she co-founded the Durham Expunction and Restoration (DEAR) Program, an initiative that has been described as a model for other jurisdictions ⁷.

Maris’s judicial record includes decisions regarding equal protection and domestic violence statutes. She has publicly supported rulings that prevent North Carolina from barring same-sex couples from accessing domestic violence protective orders, characterizing such legal outcomes as both legally and morally correct ⁴. Her professional background includes service as an assistant public defender prior to her appointment by Governor Roy Cooper in 2017 ¹⁰.

Maris self-describes her tenure as involving tireless work to ensure the fair administration of justice for parties appearing before her and across the broader justice system ⁷. She has received endorsements from organizations such as the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund during her campaign cycles ³⁸.

Sources