MANHATTANVILLE COLLEGE, PURCHASE, NY May 1988
Bachelor of Science in Management

2018_pa_dc_hall.pdf

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, DURHAM, NC May 2008
Master of Business Administration

EDUCATION
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, DURHAM, NC May 2008
Juris Doctor

1) Please tell us what in your record as a public official or private citizen demonstrates your ability to be effective, fair, and impartial on the bench? Please be specific.

My life experiences are broad, having been married for over 30 years, the father of three, working with various and diverse non-profits from Seeds to Southern Coalition for Social Justice, my educational background includes, art, business, law, and trades.

Candidate Questionnaire: Dave Hall, NC District Court 14, Seat 1

Dave Hall earned a Bachelor of Science in management from Manhattanville College, a Master of Business Administration from North Carolina Central University, and a law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law. He has been married for over 30 years and is the father of three.

Dave has worked as a defense attorney and with various non-profits such as SEEDS and the Southern Coalition for Social Justice.

Dave currently serves as a District Court Judge, where he has been since 2018.

2026 North Carolina General Election

Dave Hall (Democratic Party) is a judge for Seat 1 of the North Carolina 16th Judicial District. Hall assumed office on January 1, 2024. Hall's current term ends on December 31, 2026.

Dave Hall (North Carolina)

WORK HISTORY
Southern Coalition for Social Justice, DURHAM, NC 10/2014- 4/2018
Senior Staff Attorney

Senior attorney responsible for implementing and managing various civil rights projects including: expunction clinics, driver’s license restoration, Fines & Fees litigation, and other civil rights advocacy & coalition programs. Supervised a staff of 6 attorneys and various support staff.

The Law Office of O. David Hall, PLLC, DURHAM, NC 1/2009 - 2014
Managing Member

A General Practice law firm practicing in the areas of: Criminal Defense, Traffic, Family Law, Child Support, Contracts, Bankruptcy, and other civil and criminal matters.

Serves as a North Carolina District 16 judge, presiding over cases within the court's jurisdiction and issuing rulings and orders.

As a district court judge, oversees all felony, probate, and civil cases, authorizes naturalization and divorce proceedings, and exercises authority to review and correct the rulings of lower courts.

Served from 2014 to 2018 as a senior staff attorney managing civil rights projects on record clearing, driver's license restoration, and court fines and fees.

Led a general-practice law firm handling criminal defense, traffic, family law, child support, contracts, bankruptcy, and other civil and criminal matters from 2009 to 2014.

Led a general-practice law firm handling criminal defense, traffic, family law, child support, contracts, bankruptcy, and other civil and criminal matters.

- As a district court judge, oversees all felony, probate, and civil cases, authorizes naturalization and divorce proceedings, and exercises authority to review and correct the rulings of lower courts.
- Served from 2014 to 2018 as a senior staff attorney managing civil rights projects on record clearing, driver's license restoration, and court fines and fees.
- Led a general-practice law firm handling criminal defense, traffic, family law, child support, contracts, bankruptcy, and other civil and criminal matters.

Legal Experience

I do believe that judges should be well educated on the topic and be trained to recognize and understand the impact and effects their decisions have in the pursuit of justice. I recommend the use of benchcards and continuing education to remind judges of the guiding principles set forth in our statutes and of the societal impacts and consequences their decisions have on perpetuating systemic and institutional racism. Such reminders can aid judges as they consider using their discretion in imposing such things as bail and fines and fees. Discretion is arguably the most powerful tool a judge has.

Dave Hall – Durham County District Court Judge Candidate

The 400 percent increase in court costs over the past twenty years only exacerbates the impact and collateral consequences of contact with the justice system for poor people.

It is not the role of judges to legislate from the bench, however I recommend the use of benchcards and continued education to remind judges of the guiding principles set forth in the statutes, societal impacts of their decisions, and collateral consequences when imposing bail, fines and fees.

Similar to bail reform, restorative justice practices are in their infancy. Just this year I attended Durham’s first restorative justice plea, facilitated by Restore Justice Durham. As quoted in Indyweek, restorative justice practices are “a rehabilitative approach that focuses on reconciliation between a defendant and a victim and the community.” I am in full support of programs and practices that move us towards accountability and not punishment alone. I hope that we will see restorative justice practices increase, with more groups and additional restorative ideas.

Restorative justice opportunities will depend on an individual set of facts. Victims and defendants must both be open to the process, and as long as that is the case, restorative justice should be open to all types of charges.

First, all charges must be evaluated on a case by case basis. Class III marijuana possession is generally not subject to incarceration. For these types of low level drug cases I believe pre-adjudication diversion should always be the first solution. I also believe our misdemeanor diversion program should be expanded to include 25 yr olds.

5) Do you favor or oppose public financing of judicial elections? What changes to North Carolina’s system of judicial elections do you believe are necessary, if any?

I believe there are models of public financing that would remove financial barriers to political office thereby allowing a larger pool of qualified candidates to seek office.

I believe we need to remove political partisanship from our judicial elections. The Judiciary does not need to be nor should it be partisan. The judiciary should avoid even the appearance of our decisions being based on any type of partisanship or political bias.

Unless a defendant is in jail with no bond, all people incarcerated in our local jail are there because they cannot afford bail. Furthermore, all people held in pretrial incarceration are presumed to be innocent. I believe that pretrial release should always look to the least restrictive measures that will ensure appearance in court. This is what the law requires. Bond should be used as a last resort to assure safety for the community and appearance in court.

I support presumed pretrial release for all misdemeanors that do not involve violence as an element of the charge. This is the least restrictive method to ensure appearance in court.

I support presumed pretrial release for all misdemeanors that do not involve violence as an element of the charge. This is the least restrictive method to ensure appearance in court. It would be possible in a specific case to overcome this presumption, as I believe each individual and set of facts is unique and should be assessed on a case by case basis.

Bond schedules are one of the main tools provided to judges to help them make decisions as they administer our current system of incarceration and bail.

Bond schedules provide judges with guidelines. Judges choose to follow or deviate from them, using the discretion allowed to them by law. Judges make decisions about bond based on facts presented to them. I’ve seen bonds raised as well as lowered based on facts presented at hearings. I believe that discretion should remain with the judge as trier of fact to determine whether or not the suggested or set bond is proper.

I would not have a bright line rule that I would apply in all failure to appear (FTA) cases. I will consider each situation on a case by case basis. I would assess each FTA strike request on a case by case basis as judges have discretion on striking and remitting certain fines and fees. I understand that an additional $200 fee can be an insurmountable hurdle for some causing years of disenfranchisement. I will be as compassionate and understanding as the facts and law allow.

16. What can be done to improve language access for defendants, victims, and witnesses during court proceedings?
I believe that the courts have a responsibility to improve language access, especially for seldom encountered languages. Interpretation is costly, and the court system should receive resource to specifically meet this need. The legislature must prioritize and properly fund the Administrative Office of Courts, which bears responsibility for providing language access.

20. How have (or will) you address legislation that requires notice to be given to all impacted governmental agencies before a judge waives costs and fines for a criminal defendant? Under what circumstances should a court waive costs and fines?
Courts should be able to waive fees upon proper findings of facts in Beard
en hearings and/or in the interest of justice. Recent changes to the laws now require judges to notify 600 various agencies when they waive court costs and fines, making waivers of costs and fees essentially impossible.

Recommends judicial bench cards and continuing education on statutory principles and the effects of bail, fines, and fees.

Recommends judicial bench cards and continuing education on statutory principles and the effects of bail, fines, and fees to remind judges of important statutory guiding principles and "of the societal impacts and consequences their decisions have on perpetuating systemic and institutional racism."

Supports expanding restorative-justice practices that emphasize accountability rather than punishment alone.

Supports pre-adjudication diversion as the first option in low-level drug cases and expanding misdemeanor diversion through age 25.

Supports public financing models for judicial elections and removing political partisanship from judicial elections.

Supports least-restrictive pretrial release and presumed release for nonviolent misdemeanors, with bond used as a last resort.

Supports judicial discretion to follow or depart from bond schedules based on the facts of each case.

Recommends assessing failures to appear and requests to strike related fines or fees on a case-by-case basis.

Calls for improved language access in courts, including resources for interpretation in seldom-encountered languages.

Supports allowing courts to waive fees after appropriate findings or when justice requires it.

- Recommends judicial bench cards and continuing education on statutory principles and the effects of bail, fines, and fees to remind judges of important statutory guiding principles and "of the societal impacts and consequences their decisions have on perpetuating systemic and institutional racism."
- Supports expanding restorative-justice practices that emphasize accountability rather than punishment alone.
- Supports pre-adjudication diversion as the first option in low-level drug cases and expanding misdemeanor diversion through age 25.
- Supports public financing models for judicial elections and removing political partisanship from judicial elections.
- Supports least-restrictive pretrial release and presumed release for nonviolent misdemeanors, with bond used as a last resort.
- Supports judicial discretion to follow or depart from bond schedules based on the facts of each case.
- Recommends assessing failures to appear and requests to strike related fines or fees on a case-by-case basis.
- Calls for improved language access in courts, including resources for interpretation in seldom-encountered languages.
- Supports allowing courts to waive fees after appropriate findings or when justice requires it.

Judicial Administration

4) In a sentence, how would you define your judicial philosophy?

My judicial philosophy is to apply the law in a fair, just, and equitable manner, seeking accountability and opportunity and adhering to the North Carolina Code of Judicial Conduct.

I have always been a registered Democrat. My judicial approach or philosophy is not impacted by partisan politics. As a Judge, my political affiliation has no place inside of the courtroom. I was elected to preside over cases according to the laws of the state and our constitution, not to inject any political views into the courtroom or my rulings.

Applies the law fairly, justly, and equitably while seeking accountability and opportunity and following the North Carolina Code of Judicial Conduct.

Said judges should decide cases under state law and the constitution without injecting political views into rulings.

- Applies the law fairly, justly, and equitably while seeking accountability and opportunity and following the North Carolina Code of Judicial Conduct.
- Said judges should decide cases under state law and the constitution without injecting political views into rulings.

Judicial Philosophy

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

Ethics & Conduct

5. Describe your current community involvement. As a judge, do you envision any community involvement beyond the specific duties of the office? If yes, please describe that involvement.
As a community advocate I’ve been involved with groups such as FADE (Fostering Alternative Drug Enforcement), the group that helped reduce police stops on people of color in Durham from 15,000 in 2013 to fewer than 5,000 in 2017.

Participated in FADE (Fostering Alternative Drug Enforcement), which helped reduce police stops of people of color in Durham.

- Participated in FADE (Fostering Alternative Drug Enforcement), which helped reduce police stops of people of color in Durham.

Community Involvement

Facebook

LinkedIn

Twitter

Dave Hall

- Supports public financing models for judicial elections and removing political partisanship from judicial elections.
- Supports least-restrictive pretrial release and presumed release for nonviolent misdemeanors, with bond used as a last resort.
- Supports judicial discretion to follow or depart from bond schedules based on the facts of each case.
- Recommends assessing failures to appear and requests to strike related fines or fees on a case-by-case basis.
- Calls for improved language access in courts, including resources for interpretation in seldom-encountered languages.
- Supports allowing courts to waive fees after appropriate findings or when justice requires it.

I have a law degree and an MBA, that I am a victim of gun violence, and that I was a civil rights attorney. I have been married for over 30 years, the father of three.

Dave is a district court judge for North Carolina's 16th Judicial District. He previously worked as a civil rights attorney. He also grew up working in his father's autobody shop.

Dave Hall (North Carolina) - Ballotpedia

Dave is currently a judge for the North Carolina 16th Judicial District. Before that, he served as a judge for the North Carolina 14th Judicial District. He was first elected to that position in 2018 and re-elected in 2022.

As an incumbent district court judge since 2018, Hall has experience as a civil rights attorney.

For Candidate Dave Hall on Issue judicial-administration: Acknowledges the need to address issues of poverty, disparate outcomes, and collateral consequences in the current system of pretrial release, emphasizing the importance of bond schedules in judicial decision-making.

Said his judicial philosophy is to apply the law in a fair, just, and equitable manner while adhering to the North Carolina Code of Judicial Conduct.

Advocates for the removal of political partisanship from judicial elections, emphasizing that the judiciary should be impartial and free from political bias.

Alejandra Gracias

Buket Urgen

- District Court judges hear civil, criminal, and juvenile cases. Civil cases dealing with divorce, child custody, and child support are heard in District Court. 
- Under the District Court, the magistrate can try small claims cases ($10,000 or less), landlord eviction cases, and suits for recovery of personal property. A magistrate is an independent judicial officer, recognized by the North Carolina Constitution as an officer of the district court. 
- District Court Judges are elected for a four-year term. Elections are partisan. 

Judge who handles majority of trial level cases.