news-record.com

Office you seek
District Court Judge

Date of birth
April 18, 1972

Occupation
Asst. District Attorney

Address
Brown Summit, NC

Web site/e-mail address
averycrump@yahoo.com

Education
UNC-Chapel Hill 1994 Political Science Degree
University of Sheffield, England 1992-1993
NCCU School of Law 1997, Jurist Doctorate

Elective experience
Although I have never held a public office, I have held office in an important civic organization called Jack and Jill of America, Inc.  In this organization we focus on the educational, social and economic development of the youth in the community.  I recently held the position of Vice-President.

Professional credentials (specialized training or experience)
I prosecute primarily rapes/sex offenses against children and adults. I also worked for many years in juvenile court which is a specialized area of criminal law.

Family
My husband's name is Jason Crump. He is a Defense Attorney in    Winston Salem.  We have two sons named Jason, Jr. and Xavier Michael.

Why have you chosen to run for this office?
After learning that Judge Lawrence McSwain, a Judge in Juvenile Court, was retiring this year, I decided to run for District Court Judge.  We need judges with the experience and the desire to preside over Juvenile Court. I have that.  From 2000 to 2006, I was the Assistant District Attorney assigned to run Juvenile Court.  I did it for so long, not because I had to, but because I loved working with the Juveniles. Most of our judges do not want to do Juvenile Court because it can be hard and stressful.  

What distinguishes you most from your opponent?
My trial experience in Superior Court and willingness to work in Juvenile Court distinguishes me most from my opponent.  My trial experience includes the prosecution of serious felonies including but not limited to murders, rapes, sex offenses.  This trial experience has also taught me the importance of listening intently to what all the parties to a matter have to say.  As a prosecutor, I utilized that skill to search for justice for those I represented and as a Judge I will utilize it to search for Justice for all who come before me.

What key qualifications would you bring to the job?
My 10+ years as a prosecutor makes me uniquely qualified to be a District Court Judge.  In handling cases in Juvenile Court, I have established working relationships with law enforcement, Department of Social Services, Family Services of the Piedmont and Youth Focus.   

Are you qualified to preside in every court or willing to gain the necessary qualifications?
Yes, I am qualified to preside in every court.  I am also willing to gain more experience in areas that I need.  I truly believe that one can always gain more knowledge about the law.

Where do you see the greatest shortcomings in District Court, and how could they be corrected?
The greatest shortcoming in District Court is Time Management.  You have approximately eight hours to sometimes move hundreds of cases.  I am a big believer in the old saying of "If you start on time, then you will finish on time."

Does everyone receive equal justice in District Court, regardless of race, ethnic origin, gender, language, income or legal representation? If not, what measures could help? 
I can only speak to what I see.  The District Attorney's Office bases our decisions on the evidence and the law, and not someone's race, gender, or language. 

However, there are some citizens that may face inequality in civil matters because they do not have the means to get the assistance of counsel or are not aware of the legal aid office.   Legal aid is a valuable asset to citizens who are indigent.

In criminal matters, is enough done to ensure that dangerous offenders aren't released prior to trial with insufficient supervision?
Our system is not perfect.  We do all that we can with the limited   resources that we have.  It would be nice if we had electronic monitoring prior to trial but we do not. 

How can the court help steer troubled young people away from gangs or further criminal activity?
I believe that one must look at each case individually.  There are programs to help some of our youth, but one also needs to understand that there are some young people that are more difficult to reach, and we are not always successful in our efforts no matter how hard we try.  If a juvenile wants to improve himself, we owe it to them to do everything we can to help them succeed.

What are common mistakes judges make, and how can you avoid them?
Age of the accused is no reason to lower bonds on serious felonies.  Instead of considering the age of the accused, we should consider what factors are in place, or what factors we can put in place to prevent recidivism.

How can voters judge your abilities? 
I would welcome any voter to come and observe me in Court.  That would give them first hand knowledge in observing my abilities in the courtroom.  I would also say look at the type of cases that I have been entrusted to prosecute. These cases are not for the faint of heart.  I believe that voters would also observe that I am courteous to everyone in courtroom.  I treat everyone with respect and dignity that I deal with, not only court personnel but defendants as well.