Tim Rooks — N.C. Superior Court Judge, District 36, Seat 1

Full name: Timothy J. Rooks

Age: 57

Education: J.D., Wake Forest University School of Law (1993)

Current employer and job title:

Superior Court Judge — District 36 (Burke and Caldwell counties)

How long have you lived in the district you want to serve?

We first moved to Burke County in 1994.

What are your top three priorities you want to address if elected?

Review and update the pre-trial release policy in our District and implement Iryna’s Law.

Further facilitate coordination between the court system and local substance abuse providers to assure those who are substance addicted have access to tools needed to lead sober, productive lives.

Represent Burke and Caldwell County competently and effectively when traveling to other Superior courts in our State.

What experience do you feel has best prepared you for handling complex or emotionally charged cases, particularly in violent or family-related matters?

Conflict is inherent in litigation. Effectively managing that conflict and guiding cases toward a fair and just resolution comes with years of experience, and I have spent more than three decades in private practice as a courtroom litigator in both criminal and civil cases. My certification as a mediator in domestic matters has further strengthened my ability as a Superior Court Judge to navigate difficult and emotionally charged disputes while maintaining decorum in the courtroom. In every case that comes before me as a Superior Court Judge, my goal is to ensure that all parties are heard and treated with fairness, dignity, and respect while the law is applied impartially.

How do you make sure underrepresented and unrepresented parties feel heard while maintaining neutrality and courtroom efficiency?

As a Superior Court Judge, I make sure underrepresented and unrepresented parties feel heard by treating every person who comes before the court with dignity, patience, and respect. I listen carefully to their concerns, explain procedures in clear, plain language, and allow them a reasonable opportunity to present their positions. At the same time, I maintain strict neutrality by applying the same rules and legal standards to all parties regardless of who they are. I manage my courtroom through setting clear expectations, establishing a consistency that only comes from experience in a courtroom, and making timely rulings so proceedings remain orderly and efficient.

Why do you feel you are the best candidate for this position? What do you hope to contribute in the judgeship?

I am the most experienced and qualified candidate for this job. For more than three decades, I practiced law in courtrooms across North Carolina as a litigator and now as a Superior Court Judge. My experience spans the full breadth of criminal law, including capital murder, drug trafficking, sexual offenses, DWI, domestic violence, and probation violations. I’m the only candidate with any meaningful experience handling criminal cases, and in particular serious felonies in Superior Court.

I also bring extensive experience in civil litigation, having handled matters involving domestic disputes, personal injury, contract disputes, complex construction cases, and other civil claims. In addition, I served as a certified family financial mediator for many years, assisting attorneys and their clients in resolving high-conflict cases outside the courtroom.

I am the only candidate who has litigated cases in the courtroom nearly every day of his career as a lawyer and now as Judge. As a Superior Court Judge, my goal every time I take the bench is to be fair and impartial, straight forward, plain spoken, consistent, and faithful to the law as it is written.