In addition, Judge McMasters is a former President of the Winston-Salem and Forsyth County Bar Associations. She is a 2011 recipient of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Citizen Lawyer Award, and a 2013 recipient of the City of Winston-Salem, Human Relations Department’s MLK Young Dreamer’s Award. Judge McMasters is a 1995 graduate of Cornell University, with Distinction in All Subjects, and a 1998 graduate of Boston College Law School.

High Point University School of Law Faculty | Law School | High Point University

Governor Cooper made the following appointments: Valene McMasters as District Court Judge in District 21 serving Forsyth County. McMasters will fill the vacant seat formerly held by Judge Denise Hartsfield. McMasters is the Managing Attorney at Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc. Previously, she was the Family Law Supervising Attorney at Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc. and an associate at Kilpatrick Stockton LLP. She earned her Bachelor of Arts at Cornell University and her Juris Doctor at Boston College Law School.

Governor Cooper Announces Four Judicial Appointments | NC Governor

Her community involvement includes serving as a big sister for Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Board Chair for both Authoring Action Youth Group and the Shugart Women’s Center at Forsyth Technical Community College, as well as a member of the Board of Trustees for Salemtowne Retirement Community. In addition, Judge McMasters is a former President of the Winston-Salem and Forsyth County Bar Associations.

Valene K. McMasters earned a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University in 1995 and a law degree from Boston College Law School in 1998. Her community involvement has included serving as a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters, serving as board chair of Authoring Action Youth Group and the Shugart Women’s Center at Forsyth Technical Community College, and serving as a member of the Board of Trustees for Salemtowne Retirement Community.

High Point University School of Law Faculty | Law School | High ...

Valene K. McMasters earned a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University in 1995 and a law degree from Boston College Law School in 1998. 

The Honorable Valene K. McMasters has served as a District Court Judge in Forsyth County, North Carolina since 2021. Prior to becoming a Judge, she served as Managing Attorney for the Winston-Salem office of Legal Aid of North Carolina for 19 years. As Managing Attorney, she supervised the legal work for the staff of over 25 attorneys and paralegals, and assisted clients in Family Law, Housing, and Public Benefits cases.

Prior to becoming a Judge, she served as Managing Attorney for the Winston-Salem office of Legal Aid of North Carolina for 19 years. As Managing Attorney, she supervised the legal work for the staff of over 25 attorneys and paralegals, and assisted clients in Family Law, Housing, and Public Benefits cases. Prior to joining Legal Aid, she worked as a Trademark Law Department Associate with Kilpatrick law firm’s Winston-Salem Office.

Valene K. McMasters previously served as managing attorney for Legal Aid of North Carolina's Winston-Salem office. Before that, she worked as a trademark law department associate at Kilpatrick's Winston-Salem office.

Valene McMasters (Democratic Party) is a judge for Seat 1 of the North Carolina 31st Judicial District. She assumed office on January 1, 2024. Her current term ends on December 31, 2028.

Valene McMasters - Ballotpedia

McMasters (Democratic Party) ran for re-election for judge of the North Carolina 21st Judicial District. She won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Valene is a judge for Seat 1 of the North Carolina 31st Judicial District. She assumed office on January 1, 2024, and her term ends on December 31, 2028. She was appointed as a District Court judge in District 21 serving Forsyth County to fill a vacant seat, and won reelection to the North Carolina 21st Judicial District on November 8, 2022.

Valene is a judge for Seat 1 of the North Carolina 31st Judicial District. She assumed office in 2024. She was appointed as a District Court judge in District 21 serving Forsyth County to fill a vacant seat, and won reelection to the North Carolina 21st Judicial District on November 8, 2022.

2026 North Carolina General Election

Was appointed as a District Court Judge serving Forsyth County.

As a state 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 for 19 years as managing attorney for Legal Aid of North Carolina's Winston-Salem office, supervising more than 25 attorneys and paralegals and assisting clients with family law, housing, and public-benefits matters.

Worked as a trademark law associate at Kilpatrick's Winston-Salem office before joining Legal Aid of North Carolina.

- As a state 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 for 19 years as managing attorney for Legal Aid of North Carolina's Winston-Salem office, supervising more than 25 attorneys and paralegals and assisting clients with family law, housing, and public-benefits matters.
- Worked as a trademark law associate at Kilpatrick's Winston-Salem office before joining Legal Aid of North Carolina.

Legal Experience

“Approximately 63% of victims choose not to report sexual assaults because of the deeply personal nature of what they experience and their fear of the retraumatization that can occur during the prosecution of a case,” said Forsyth County District Court Judge Valene McMasters in a statement for The Chronicle. “Proclaiming April as Sexual Assault Awareness month helps to bring victims out of the shadows and lets them know that they have access to local organizations that provide hands-on support like Family Services, Eliza’s Helping Hands, and Next Step Ministries. When presiding over these cases, I have to be intentional about having trauma-informed courtroom interactions and make appropriate adjustments, such as seating prosecuting witnesses away from alleged offenders, which maximizes safety and builds trust with the public.”

Spreading awareness, supporting survivors of sexual assault during the month of April | WS Chronicle

Uses trauma-informed courtroom interactions in sexual-assault cases, including seating prosecution witnesses away from alleged offenders to maximize safety and build public trust.

Supports and uses trauma-informed courtroom interactions in sexual-assault cases, including seating prosecution witnesses away from alleged offenders to maximize safety and build public trust.

- Supports and uses trauma-informed courtroom interactions in sexual-assault cases, including seating prosecution witnesses away from alleged offenders to maximize safety and build public trust.

Judicial Administration

As of January 5, 2026, Valene K. McMasters’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Serves as a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Serves as board chair of Authoring Action Youth Group.

Serves as board chair of the Shugart Women’s Center at Forsyth Technical Community College.

Serves on the Board of Trustees of Salemtowne Retirement Community.

- Serves as a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters.
- Serves as board chair of Authoring Action Youth Group.
- Serves as board chair of the Shugart Women’s Center at Forsyth Technical Community College.
- Serves on the Board of Trustees of Salemtowne Retirement Community.

Community Involvement

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Valene K. McMasters

- Served for 19 years as managing attorney for Legal Aid of North Carolina's Winston-Salem office, supervising more than 25 attorneys and paralegals and assisting clients with family law, housing, and public-benefits matters.
- Worked as a trademark law associate at Kilpatrick's Winston-Salem office before joining Legal Aid of North Carolina.

- Uses trauma-informed courtroom interactions in sexual-assault cases, including seating prosecution witnesses away from alleged offenders to maximize safety and build public trust.

Valene McMasters has a bachelor 27s degree from Cornell University and a law degree from Boston College Law. 

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Valene is a judge for the North Carolina 31st Judicial District. Before taking the bench, she was the managing attorney at Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc. Before that, she was the family law supervising attorney at Legal Aid and worked as an associate at Kilpatrick Stockton LLP.

Valene is currently a judge for Seat 1 of the North Carolina 31st Judicial District. She was elected in 2024. Valene previously served as a judge for the North Carolina 21st Judicial District. She was first appointed to the court in 2021 and re-elected in 2022.

Was the managing attorney at Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.

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.