District Attorney District 01
Republican
Jeff Cruden
December 3, 2025
2908 Bay Drive
Kill Devil Hills. North Carolina 27948

Currituck County Elections Candidate List

Jeff Cruden | BallotReady

Jeff Cruden earned a law degree from Campbell University. He lives in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.

2026 Official North Carolina Candidate List - Currituck County

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Professional Experience
Dare County 1st Judicial District, Assistant District Attorney (2015 - Present)
Wake County, Assistant District Attorney (1997 - 2014)
Elizabeth City 1st Judicial District, Assistant District Attorney (1994 - 1997)
US Navy, Aviation Electronics technician (1981 - 1989)

Jeff currently works as an assistant district attorney in Dare County's 1st Judicial District. He previously worked as an assistant district attorney in Wake County and Elizabeth City's 1st Judicial District, and served in the U.S. Navy as an aviation electronics technician from 1981 to 1989.

Jeff has worked as an assistant district attorney in Dare County's 1st Judicial District. He also previously worked an assistant district attorney in Wake County and Elizabeth City's 1st Judicial District, and served in the U.S. Navy as an aviation electronics technician from 1981 to 1989.

Currently holds the office of North Carolina District Attorney - District 1 until December 31, 2026.

Jeff currently serves as North Carolina District Attorney for District 1.

2026 North Carolina General Election

Prosecutorial District 1 - North Carolina Conference of District ...

As an assistant district attorney, prosecuted civil and criminal cases under state law on behalf of the district attorney’s office.

As a district attorney, prosecutes civil and criminal actions under state law and presents cases before grand juries.

- As a district attorney, prosecutes civil and criminal actions under state law and presents cases before grand juries.
- As an assistant district attorney, prosecuted civil and criminal cases under state law on behalf of the district attorney’s office.

Legal Experience

How do you view minor drug offenses? Our prisons are overfull, we don’t have room for all those folks, and the main people taking up those beds should be violent and repeat offenders. Everybody wins when folks that suffer from addiction and substance abuse issues get their treatment so they can become productive members of society. We have a drug treatment court, we have diversions, we have conditional discharge, we give folks an opportunity to get those cases resolved without a criminal conviction.

District Attorney – Jeff Cruden | Raleigh Public Record

District Attorneys around the state have taken different steps to manage the flow of cases. What will you do to improve the speed and efficiency of the criminal court docket in Wake County? I think we have a good process in our superior courtroom. Years ago I helped formulate a plan where we’d set a trial lineup of cases so lawyers and defendants knew when their cases would be up for trial, kind of a case management system. We’d had a hard time where a case would get set for trial and then you have different judges looking at it and continuing cases became a real problem, so we turned over the scheduling of our homicide cases to our senior resident Superior Court Judge Stephens.

MANTEO — Five days after a Manteo police officer fatally shot a Manteo resident, the district attorney released a statement that the shooting was “tragic” but “lawful,” meaning he will not file charges against the officer. “There will not be charges against the officer,” Prosecutorial District 1 District Attorney Jeff Cruden confirmed to Outer Banks Insider on Wednesday.

District Attorney: fatal shooting by Manteo officer was lawful, SBI investigation ongoing

In a release, Cruden said Lt. Battle's actions were legal and justified. His full statement is as follows: “After watching video from both a local business which showed the shooting of Mr. Revelle by Mr. White, and a video showing Lieutenant Battle shooting Mr. White, I am amazed by the bravery that officers display in situations like this. The natural response is to run from danger, Lieutenant Battle and officers like him, on a daily basis run towards the danger to protect us citizens and enforce our laws. However, my job as District Attorney is not to be amazed by officers’ bravery, my job is to review the actions of law enforcement officers to make sure they comply with the same laws that we as citizens are bound by. The law in North Carolina states that a law enforcement officer is justified in using deadly force upon another person only when it is or appears to be reasonably necessary to defend himself or a third person from what he reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of deadly physical force. It is very evident that the actions of Lieutenant Battle were consistent with those actions permitted under North Carolina law and therefore my recommendation to Chief Avens of the Elizabeth City Police Department is that Lieutenant Battle be permitted back to full duty without delay.”

Investigation says Elizabeth City officer who shot, killed homicide suspect was justified

The judgment concluded a civil nuisance abatement case brought by Pasquotank County and District Attorney, Jeff Cruden on behalf of the state. Under Chapter 19 of the North Carolina General Statutes, nuisance activities include crimes involving drug laws, alcohol laws, recurring violence and breaches of the peace. The statute provides a civil remedy to address such criminal acts and their impact on the community.

Final Judgment Ordered in Elizabeth City Nuisance Case | NC DPS

Supports drug treatment, diversion, and conditional discharge to resolve addiction-related cases without criminal convictions.

Helped formulate a trial-lineup case-management plan to give lawyers and defendants notice of trial timing.

Said prison beds should primarily be used for violent and repeat offenders.

Declined to file charges against a Manteo police officer after determining a fatal shooting was lawful.

Recommended that an Elizabeth City police lieutenant return to full duty after finding the officer's use of deadly force lawful.

Brought a civil nuisance-abatement case with Pasquotank County concerning criminal nuisance activities.

- Supports drug treatment, diversion, and conditional discharge to resolve addiction-related cases without criminal convictions.
- Helped formulate a trial-lineup case-management plan to give lawyers and defendants notice of trial timing.
- Said prison beds should primarily be used for violent and repeat offenders.
- Declined to file charges against a Manteo police officer after determining a fatal shooting was lawful.
- Recommended that an Elizabeth City police lieutenant return to full duty after finding the officer's use of deadly force lawful.
- Brought a civil nuisance-abatement case with Pasquotank County concerning criminal nuisance activities.

Public Safety

As of January 5, 2026, Jeff Cruden’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Consumer Protection

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Jeff Cruden

- As a district attorney, prosecutes civil and criminal actions under state law and presents cases before grand juries.
- As an assistant district attorney, prosecuted civil and criminal cases under state law on behalf of the district attorney’s office.
- As an assistant district attorney, prosecuted civil and criminal cases under state law on behalf of the district attorney’s office.

Serves as North Carolina District Attorney for District 1, prosecuting civil and criminal actions under state law and presenting cases before grand juries.

Served as an assistant district attorney in Dare County's 1st Judicial District, prosecuting cases under state law for the district attorney's office.

Served as a Wake County assistant district attorney from 1997 to 2014, prosecuting cases under state law for the district attorney's office.

Served as an assistant district attorney in Elizabeth City's 1st Judicial District from 1994 to 1997, prosecuting cases under state law for the district attorney's office.

- Declined to file charges against a Manteo police officer after determining a fatal shooting was lawful.
- Recommended that an Elizabeth City police lieutenant return to full duty after finding the officer's use of deadly force lawful.
- Brought a civil nuisance-abatement case with Pasquotank County concerning criminal nuisance activities.

Jeff is currently the district attorney for North Carolina's First Prosecutorial District. He previously ran for North Carolina 1st District Attorney in 2022 but did not win.

Jeff Cruden (North Carolina 1st Prosecutorial District Attorney, North ...

Four runoff primaries set for Tuesday

For Candidate Jeff Cruden on Issue public-safety:  
Supports the use of deadly force by law enforcement when it is reasonably necessary for self-defense or to protect others, as consistent with North Carolina law.

Alejandra Gracias

Buket Urgen

- As an assistant district attorney, prosecuted civil and criminal cases under state law on behalf of the district attorney’s office.
- As an assistant district attorney, prosecuted civil and criminal cases under state law on behalf of the district attorney’s office.

- The district attorney prosecutes all criminal cases filed in District and Superior Courts.
- They advise local law enforcement on which cases to pursue and how to collect proper evidence for those cases.
- The district attorney may institute court proceedings on behalf of the State, its agencies, or its citizens in any and all public interest matters. This means they play an important role in keeping the public safe.
The district attorney is elected for a four-year term in partisan elections. 

Prosecutes criminal cases and represents the state in local courts. 