Leah Britt Lanier is a District Court Judge in Robeson County, North Carolina. A native of Lumberton, she earned her undergraduate degree in political science from Campbell University and her law degree from Elon University School of Law in 2017. After law school, she returned to her home county to work as a prosecutor in the district attorney's office.

Leah Britt Lanier | Civoren

Leah Britt Lanier is a native of Lumberton. She earned an undergraduate degree in political science from Campbell University and a law degree from Elon University School of Law in 2017.

Leah Britt Lanier - Civoren

Leah Britt Lanier is from Lumberton. She earned an undergraduate degree in political science from Campbell University and a law degree from Elon University School of Law in 2017.

Lanier studied political science at Campbell where she identified a passion for advocacy and, in her description, “standing up for victims and for people who didn’t always have a voice.” Law school was an obvious next step. Following graduation in 2017, she returned to Robeson County as a prosecutor.

A Voice of Compassion | Today at Elon

Leah previously worked as a prosecutor in Robeson County.

A Voice of Compassion | Today at Elon | Elon University

Before friends, family, colleagues and supporters at the Carolina Civic Center Historic Theater, Leah Britt Lanier was sworn in Monday to seat 1 on the Robeson County District Court 16B seat by Judge Angelica Chavis McIntyre, as her husband held the Bible. Lanier obtained the seat after securing more votes than fellow assistant district attorney MaryJane Richardson during the Nov. 8 General Election. Once votes were tallied, results showed that Lanier garnered 57.49% of the vote, or 15,539 votes versus Richardson’s 42.51%, or 11,492 votes.

Robeson County seats 2 Republican judges – Robesonian

Leah was elected to Seat 1 on the Robeson County District Court in the Nov. 8 general election.

Britt highlights new '26 election filings | Robesonian

Leah was elected to Seat 1 on the Robeson County District Court.

2026 North Carolina General Election

Served as a prosecutor in Robeson County after graduating from law school in 2017.

- Served as a prosecutor in Robeson County after graduating from law school in 2017.

Legal Experience

Describes treatment court as closely monitoring about 50 participants every day.

Skeptics say sentencing a defendant to treatment court instead of jail is too lenient, but Lanier insists it is not the easy way out. “For one thing, we are all up in their lives every day,” Lanier said. “We have about 50 people in treatment court right now, and I can tell you where each one of them is at any given moment.” At its core, treatment court is an intense type of probation, Richardson said.

Treatment Courts Give Drug Users a Second Chance

As of January 5, 2026, Leah Britt Lanier’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Judicial Administration

Lanier obtained the seat after securing more votes than fellow assistant district attorney MaryJane Richardson during the Nov. 8 General Election. Once votes were tallied, results showed that Lanier garnered 57.49% of the vote, or 15,539 votes versus Richardson’s 42.51%, or 11,492 votes. Prior to the election, Lanier told The Robesonian that she had a passion for people and that her “knowledge of the law and experience in the community will guide me in making decisions that are legally sound.” She also spoke of the fairness and reasonableness she hopes to bring to the bench.

District Court Judge Leah Britt Lanier presides over Robeson County’s three treatment courts. She says they have fueled her passion for work and helped her understand what causes some people to become repeat offenders. “I’ve learned that until the brain properly heals, a defendant is not going to do what I’m expecting them to do,” Lanier said, “and I need to meet them where they are.” Family members, friends, attorneys, and law enforcement officers can refer people to treatment court.

Said her legal knowledge and community experience will guide legally sound judicial decisions.

Said treatment court defendants need an approach that meets them where they are while their brains heal.

Said treatment court defendants need an approach that meets people where they are while their brains heal.

- Said her legal knowledge and community experience will guide legally sound judicial decisions.
- Said treatment court defendants need an approach that meets people where they are while their brains heal.

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

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Leah Britt Lanier

- Describes treatment court as closely monitoring about 50 participants every day.

- Said treatment court defendants need an approach that meets them where they are while their brains heal.

They’re right off a back hallway from Courtroom 3a. On the wall are diplomas from Elon University School of Law and her undergraduate alma mater, Campbell University, separated by a framed license to practice law.

A Voice of Compassion

One idea is starting a nonprofit where donations go toward additional resources not funded by the state. Whether that happens remains to be seen. The work, however, is deeply personal, and deeply rewarding.

“I’m raising my child here,” Lanier says on her way to the lunch festivities. “If I don’t take the time to make a difference, what community is my child growing up in? I need to use every avenue I have for the better.”

Judicial seats

Local judicial candidates who previously filed include:

— Incumbents Krystle Melvin (D) in Seat 1, Leah Britt Lanier (R) in Seat 2 and Angelica Chavis McIntyre (D) in Seat 3 for N.C. District Court Judge District 20

— Shelena Smith (D-incumbent) for Robeson County Clerk of Superior Court

Britt highlights new ’26 election filings

Serves as a North Carolina District Court judge for District 20, Seat 2.

Said that treatment-court participants receive daily oversight, and court staff can track each of roughly 50 participants.

Said treatment-court participants are evaluated based on who they are now rather than on their criminal past.

Leah is a district court judge for North Carolina's District 20. She previously worked as an attorney for the Robeson County Public Defender's Office and the North Carolina Department of Justice.

Leah is currently a district court judge for Robeson County. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term.

Republicans Solidify Political Dominance in Robeson County ...

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.