Governor Pat McCrory has appointed Valerie Johnson Zachary of Yadkinville to the North Carolina Court of Appeals. She fills the vacancy created by the recent retirement of Judge Sanford L. Steelman Jr. Judge Zachary will be required to run statewide for the office in this November's election.

"Valerie Johnson Zachary brings to the Court of Appeals a first-class legal mind as well as a long history of practicing law at the community level," Governor McCrory said in his press release. "I am grateful she has accepted this appointment."

She comes to the bench from the Zachary Law Offices of Yadkinville where she has maintained a general practice since 1989. She is a partner of the firm.

Zachary is a graduate of Harvard Law School in 1987 and worked as a research assistant for Constitutional Law Professor Laurence H. Tribe. After law school, she was a litigation associate with Kennedy, Covington, Lobbell & Hickman prior to joining Zachary Law Offices. Her undergraduate degree is from Michigan State University where she majored in multi-disciplinary programs with concentration in French, Economics, and Political Science.

She is a member of the bar for all North Carolina state courts, the United States District Courts for the Western and Middle Districts of North Carolina, as well as a bar member for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the United States Tax Court. She is a past president of the Yadkin County Bar and serves on various community, civic, and charitable boards.

Judge Zachary is a native of Yadkin County and is married to first-term State Representative Lee Zachary, who represents the 73rd District of Yadkin, Alexander, and Wilkes counties. They have three daughters.

More Information
Governor's appointment press release - July 9, 2015