The Commission is an 18-member body established by N.C. Gen. Stat. §7A-38.2. Appointments to the Commission are made by all branches of government: the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina (13 appointments, including the Chair), the Governor (one appointment), the President Pro Tempore of the Senate (one appointment), and the Speaker of the House (one appointment). In addition, the President of the North Carolina State Bar makes two appointments. By statute, membership on the Commission is to include superior and district court judges; a clerk of superior court; a district attorney, practicing attorneys, not certified to mediate; certified mediators; a court management staff member; and knowledgeable members of the public. Members serve three-year terms. Members of the Commission come from all regions of the State and both urban and rural communities.

Current Members

Judge Lori Hamilton, Chair
110 West Center Street
Lexington, NC 27292

The Honorable Lori I. Hamilton, Superior Court Judge (D22B) was appointed by Chief Justice Paul Newby on October 1, 2021, for a term expiring on September 30, 2024, reappointed on October 1, 2024, for a term expiring on September 30, 2027; and was appointed chair by Chief Justice Paul Newby on October 1, 2024, for a term expiring on September 30, 2026.

Judge Hamilton is a graduate of University of North Carolina, Charlotte (1987), where she earned her BA in Political Science and Psychology. She attended Wake Forest University School of Law, graduated with Juris Doctor and was licensed to practice law in North Carolina in 1991. She engaged in the general practice of law from 1991 until 2016 when elected to the Superior Court bench. Judge Hamilton’s professional legal experience ranges from family law and contract disputes to the trials of serious felony cases in State and Federal courts including capital defense. While on the bench she presided over a wide range of civil and criminal matters. Judge Hamilton has three grown children, and three precious grandchildren.

Judge Michael J. Stading, Vice Chair
N.C. Court of Appeals
PO Box 888
Raleigh, NC 27601

Judge Michael Stading was appointed to the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission by the Chief Justice Paul Newby for a 3-year term beginning October 1, 2023.

Judge Stading received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and his law degree from Campbell University, Norman Wiggins School of Law. Judge Stading has served as an attorney, assistant district attorney, and district court judge. He currently is a judge on the NC Court of Appeals.

Zachary Bolen, Esq.
1508 Brooks Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27607

Zachary C. Bolen was appointed to the N.C. Dispute Resolution Commission by Senate President Pro-Tem Phil Berger on October 1, 2020 – September 30, 2023; and reappointed by Senate President Pro-Tem Phil Berger on October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2026 as knowledgeable citizen.

Zachary was a partner in an established Raleigh law firm before starting Bolen Mediation in 2019. In 20+ years of legal practice, Zachary focused on employment law and workers’ compensation matters and has served as mediator in a variety of civil cases. Zachary is “AV Preeminent” peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell and was selected by his peers to be listed among the “Best Lawyers in America” for 2020 and 2021.

Judge Christopher Bragg
Superior Court Emergency Judge
Monroe, NC

Judge Christopher Bragg was appointed by Chief Justice Paul Newby as a Certified Superior Court Mediator. Judge Bragg received his undergraduate degree in English and criminal justice from NC Wesleyan College in 1983, and his
JD from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1986. He has served as a Superior Court Judge, Chief District Court Judge, District Court Judge, ADA, and judge advocate for the US Marine Corps. He also serves as a Superior Court Emergency Judge. He
became certified as a Superior Court Mediator in July 2019 and certified as a Family Financial Mediator in November 2019. Judge Bragg resides in Monroe, NC with his wife Kathy, and is the proud father of two adult children and grandfather of three.

Judge Justin N. Davis
Superior Court Judge
Gaston County

The Hon. Justin Davis is a judge for the Gaston County Superior Court in the 30A Judicial District on the 5th Division in North Carolina. He was elected to the bench in 2022.

Prior to his election, Davis was in private practice, including as a partner at Mullen Holland & Cooper in Gaston. During that time, he handled civil litigation matters in the Superior Court, Federal Court, the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and the North Carolina Supreme Court, as well as filing a brief in the United States Supreme Court. His areas of practice included complex business disputes, employment law, personal injury, medical malpractice, real estate matters, and contracts.

He received a B.S. in business administration from the University of North Carolina. Davis then completed a J.D. at the University of Richmond School of Law.

He has been involved with the Gaston County YMCA Board of Directors and the Bethlehem Center Board of Directors. Davis was also elected to serve as a member of the Gaston County Board of Education.

He and his wife, Shelton, have two children. The family enjoys outdoor activities, including
camping, hiking, and water sports. Davis spends his free time hunting, fishing, and shooting.

Joy Peele Easley
PO Box 758
Oak Island, NC 28465

Joy Peele Easley was appointed to the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission by the Speaker of the House, Tim Moore. Her commission commenced on October 1, 2024, and expires on September 30, 2027.

Paul J. Ekster, Esq.
Wright, Worley, Pope, Ekster & Moss, PLLC
Tabor City, NC 28463

Paul J. Ekster was appointed to the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission by the North Carolina State Bar President, Marcia Armstrong for a 3- year term beginning October 1, 2023.

Paul is currently the managing partner of Wright, Worley, Pope, Ekster & Moss, PLLC, a 14-member law firm with offices in southeastern North Carolina and Horry County, South Carolina. Paul has practiced for the last 24 years with the same firm, where he started as a summer clerk in 1997. His primary office is in Tabor City, North Carolina, but he also actively practices out of the firm’s Whiteville and Supply, North Carolina locations and the South Carolina office.

Paul is primarily a litigation attorney practicing in areas that include family/domestic law, personal injury and tort law, workers’ compensation, general civil litigation, corporate litigation, and estate litigation. He also handles
transactional work as needed. Paul conducts various aspects of alternative dispute resolution, including mediations, arbitrations, and settlement conferences and has done this since 2007.

Paul graduated from Tufts University with a B.S. in Psychology in 1995 and from the Wake Forest School of Law in 1999. For fun, Paul can be found waking up most mornings at 4 AM as an active member of F3 Nation.

The Honorable Angela A. Kidd
Caldwell County Clerk of Superior Court
PO Box 1376
Lenoir, NC 28645

The Honorable Angela Kidd, Clerk of Superior Court, Caldwell County was appointed by Chief Justice Paul Newby on October 1, 2023, for a term expiring on September 30, 2026.

Mrs. Kidd was elected as Clerk of Superior Court for Caldwell County in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Prior to being elected Clerk of Superior Court she served as the Western Region Administrative Officer for the Department of Public Safety, Corrections Division. She currently serves on the Resource and Finance Committee’s for the NC Conference of Clerks of Superior Court, as well as many other local committees and boards.

Mrs. Kidd received a degree in Business Administration from Western Piedmont Community College and is married with two grown children.

Judge Toni King
PO Box 363
Fayetteville, NC 28302

The Honorable Toni King, Chief District Court Judge (D12) was appointed by Chief Justice Paul Newby on October 1, 2021, for a term expiring on September 30, 2024; reappointed by Chief Justice Paul Newby on October 1, 2024 for a term expiring September 30, 2027.

Judge King received her undergraduate degree in English language and literature from NCCU (1996). She earned her JD from NCCU and was admitted to the NC State Bar in 2000. Judge King was appointed the bench
by Governor Perdue in 2009, and was elected to a full term in November 2010, and November 2014.

Frank C. Laney, Esq.
Cary, NC 27513

Frank Laney, District Criminal Court Certified Mediator, was appointed by Chief Justice Paul Newby on November 19, 2021, for a term expiring on September 30, 2023.

Mr. Laney attended NC State University where he received his B.A., Psychology in 1979. He received his J.D. in 1982 from UNC-Chapel Hill. He has served as a Circuit Mediator for the US Court of Appeals for Fourth Circuit. He is also an adjunct professor at Campbell School of law and has been an ex-officio member of the Commission for many years. Mr. Laney has assisted the Commission with creating and implementing many of its programs. He has been a member, and past chair, of the NCBA Dispute Resolution. In 2004 he was the recipient of the section’s Peace Award.

Ralph W. Meekins, Sr., Esq.
Teddy, Meekins & Talbert, PLLC
Shelby, NC 28150

Ralph W. Meekins, Sr. was appointed by Chief Justice Paul Newby as a certified Superior Court Mediators. Mr. Meekins is an attorney with Teddy, Meekins & Talbert, PLLC. In Shelby NC and he has practiced for over 37 years, primarily in the area of personal injury and workers compensation. He is board certified in
civil trial advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and has also been a board-certified mediator since 1993 and served on the original NC Dispute Resolution Commission.

Mr. Meekins earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from UNC in 1983 and his J.D., with distinction from Campbell University School of Law in 1986. He was a basketball manager for the Carolina men’s basketball team that won a national championship in 1982 and he served as head basketball manager in 1983 for the Tar Heels.

He has served on the Board of Governors for the North Carolina Bar Association, a State Bar Councilor for the North Carolina State Bar, and as a trustee for the North Carolina Bar Association’s Health Board Trust. He has also served as a chair for the Cleveland County YMCA, the Dover Foundation YMCA, and for the Cleveland County Community Foundation. He served four years on the UNC- Chapel Hill Board of Visitors and is now serving a second term on the UNC-CH Board of Trustees.

The Honorable Andrew Murray
District Attorney - District 42
200 N. Grove Street
Hendersonville, NC 28792

Andrew Murray was appointed in May 2021, and subsequently elected to a four-year term in November of 2022, as District Attorney for North Carolina’s 42 nd Prosecutorial District, which includes Henderson, Transylvania, and Polk Counties.

Prior to his serving as District Attorney, Mr. Murray served as the presidentially appointed United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Mr. Murray was nominated by President Donald Trump on September 11, 2017, and was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on November 9, 2017. He served as U.S. Attorney from November 2017 to March 2021.

Prior to becoming the United States Attorney, Mr. Murray served as the elected District Attorney of North Carolina’s 26th Prosecutorial District (Mecklenburg County) from January 2010 to November 2017.

Prior to serving as the Mecklenburg District Attorney, Mr. Murray was a criminal law attorney in private practice from 1995 to 2010. Prior to his election as District Attorney, Mr. Murray was the managing partner of the law firm Goodman, Carr, Laughrun, Levine, Murray & Greene for over ten years.

H. David Niblock, Esq.
Craige Jenkins Liipfert & Walker, LLP
110 Oakwood Drive, Ste. 300
Winston-Salem, NC 27103

H. David Niblock was appointed to the N.C. Dispute Resolution by Chief Justice Paul Newby on April 18, 2022 – September 30, 2024; and reappointed effective October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2027, as a certified family financial mediator.

David is a partner at Craige Jenkins Liipfert & Walker LLP located in Winston-Salem. He was admitted to the NC State Bar in 1981. His practice areas include Domestic Relations, Personal Injury, Civil Litigation, Estate Administration, and Real Estate.

H. David Niblock's college education includes St. Andrews Presbyterian College, B.A., 1977, law school degree was from Campbell University School of Law, J.D, 1981. He is a dually NCDRC Certified Mediator, Superior Court Actions and Family Financial Cases.

Lauren Taylor Quinn
Ward and Smith, P.A.
PO Box 867
New Bern, NC 28563

Lauren Taylor Quinn was appointed to the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission by the North Carolina State Bar President, Todd Brown. Her commission commenced on October 1, 2024 and expires on September 30, 2025.

Ms. Quinn leads the Family Law practice group at Ward and Smith, P.A. where she has practiced as an attorney for 17 years. She is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Family Law and has been certified as a specialist since 2015. She handles litigation and non-litigation matters throughout Eastern North Carolina related to
complex issues arising out of the contemplation of marriage, dissolution of marriage, and issues incident to custody and support of children. Ms. Quinn's practice routinely involves the use of alternative dispute resolution measures, including mediation, to attempt to reach a resolution for the parties. Ms. Quinn also represents clients before the NC Court of Appeals and NC Supreme Court on family-related cases after final judgment at the trial court level. Prior to joining the firm, she was a law clerk to Judge J. Douglas McCullough of the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

Ms. Quinn earned a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel hill, her M.B.A. from Campbell University, and J.D., cum laude, from Campbell Law School. She is a board member of the North Carolina Symphony (New Bern Series) and a member of the Eastern North Carolina Inn of Court.

Judge William Southern
101 Scenic Ridge Place
King, NC 27021

The Honorable William Southern, Chief District Court Judge (D17B) was appointed by Chief Justice Paul Newby on October 1, 2021, for a term expiring on September 30, 2024; reappointed by Chief Justice Paul Newby on October 1, 2024, for a term expiring on September 30, 2027.

Judge Southern has served as a District Court Judge since 2008 and as Chief District Court Judge since 2017. He is a certified Juvenile Court Judge and serves on the Family Court Advisory Committee and Dispute Resolution Commission. He is an EA Morris Fellow and former member of the Governor’s Crime Commission. He previously served as an Assistant District Attorney in Stokes and Surry Counties. Judge Southern graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Texas Southern University School of Law. He resides in King, North Carolina with his wife Beth and children Kate, Flynn, and Caroline.

Robin J. Stinson, Esq.
Bell, Davis & Pitt
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Robin J. Stinson was appointed by Chief Justice Paul Newby as a certified Family Financial Mediator on October 1, 2022 for a term expiring on September 30, 2024; reappointed by Chief Justice Paul Newby on October 1, 2024, for a term expiring on September 30, 2027. Ms. Stinson is a Board-Certified Family Law Specialist since 1991. She received her undergraduate degree from Duke University and her J.D. from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1984. Ms. Stinson was certified as a Family Financial Mediator in October 2019, and as a Superior Court Mediator in March 1998. She is an active member of the Family Law Section of the NCBA, she served on the Association’s Board of Governors and as chair of the Family Law Section. She is the proud part of four adult children and two grandchildren.

Justina Tate
Burke County Courthouse
PO Box 796
Morganton, NC 28655

Justina Tate, Court Staff, was appointed by Chief Justice Paul Newby on October 1, 2021, for a term expiring on September 30, 2024; was reappointed by Chief Justice Paul Newby for a term expiring September 30, 2027. Ms. Tate’s appointment was a newly created seat to the Commission.

Ms. Tate is the Superior Court Trial Coordinator in Burke County (D25A). She is the president of the N.C. Association for Court Management and has been an ex- officio member of the Commission for the past year.

Judge Reuben Young
901 Corporate Center Drive
Raleigh, NC 27607

The Honorable Reuben F. Young, was appointed by Governor Josh Stein on December 19, 2025, for a term expiring on September 30, 2028.

Judge Young was appointed to the Court of Appeals for the State of North Carolina and was a Special Superior Court Judge for the North Carolina Administrative Offices of the Court. He was recently the Civil Bureau Chief for the North Carolina Department of Justice and Chief Legal Counsel for the Office of the Governor from 2003 to 2008, having served as Deputy Legal Counsel from 2001 to 2003. He previously represented the North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety as Associate Counsel for the North Carolina Department of Justice and served as Secretary for both the North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public safety, and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. His other appointments include Homeland Security Advisor for Noth Carolina, Member of the Governor’s Crime Commission, Board of Directors of the Criminal Justice Information Network and Chair for the State Emergency Response Commission.

Judge Young is a graduate of Howard University and North Carolina Central University School of Law. He currently resides in North Carolina with his family.