Luffman’s biography
Luffman, 33, is married to Zach Luffman and they have two children. She is a graduate of Wilkes Central High School, studied political science at Appalachian State University and earned a law degree from Elon University School of Law.

Jordan, Luffman in GOP Primary for Judge

This is Luffman’s first time running for elected public office. Luffman served as president and vice president of the 23rd Judicial District Bar Association and is on the boards of the North Wilkesboro Rotary Club, Wilkes Community Partnership for Children, Wilkes Community Foundation, Vice President and Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes (secretary). She is a member of the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, Wilkes County Republican Party (executive board member) Rendezvous Mountain Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She attends Wilkesboro Baptist Church.

Laura Byrd Luffman is married to Zach Luffman, and they have two children. She attends Wilkesboro Baptist Church.

Interest growing in seats on ballot in 2026 | | journalpatriot.com

Luffman, 33, is married to Zach Luffman and they have two children. She is a graduate of Wilkes Central High School, studied political science at Appalachian State University and earned a law degree from Elon University School of Law. Luffman worked as a judicial extern in all four counties in the 23rd Judicial District, as a certified legal intern in the Yadkin County District Attorney’s office and as an attorney with the law firm Finger, Roemer, Brown and Mariani, LLP in Yadkin County. In 2018, she opened her own practice, the Law Office of Laura Byrd Luffman, PLLC in Wilkes. She said her focus is on District Court matters.

Luffman worked as a judicial extern in all four counties in the 23rd Judicial District, as a certified legal intern in the Yadkin County District Attorney’s office and as an attorney with the law firm Finger, Roemer, Brown and Mariani, LLP in Yadkin County. In 2018, she opened her own practice, the Law Office of Laura Byrd Luffman, PLLC in Wilkes. She said her focus is on District Court matters.

Laura Byrd Luffman opened her own law practice, the Law Office of Laura Byrd Luffman, PLLC, in Wilkes. She previously worked as an attorney with Finger, Roemer, Brown and Mariani, LLP in Yadkin County, a judicial extern in the four counties of the 23rd Judicial District, and a certified legal intern in the Yadkin County District Attorney’s office.

Laura Byrd Luffman (North Carolina 23rd Judicial ... - Ballotpedia

Laura is the current District Court Judge in Judicial District 23 and was first elected in 2022.

2026 North Carolina General Election

(Question 2: What are your qualifications?) “My career has been focused on practicing law in our community and in our district courts. Throughout my legal career, I have represented clients in our district across a wide array of legal areas including: traffic cases, domestic relations cases, criminal cases, juvenile delinquency cases, juvenile abuse, neglect and dependency cases, child support cases and child custody cases.
I’ve also represented clients outside the courtroom in the areas of real estate and estate planning. This wide array of professional experience and continuous work in our district court is the reason I am confident and prepared to take the bench as District Court Judge.”

May 17 primary will decide Judge's race

Retiring Chief District Court Judge David Byrd, who has presided in the 23rd Judicial District since first elected in 1994, swore in his daughter, Laura Byrd Luffman as a new District Court judge during a Monday morning, Jan. 2, ceremony at the Wilkes County Courthouse in Wilkesboro. Shown above is David Byrd, swearing in Laura, as her husband, Zach, and her children, Grant and Reagan look on. Wilkes Record photos by Ken Welborn.

Retiring Judge Byrd swears in Daughter as new Judge

Served as a certified legal intern in the Yadkin County District Attorney’s Office.

Worked as an attorney at Finger, Roemer, Brown and Mariani, LLP in Yadkin County.

Worked as a judicial extern in all four counties of the 23rd Judicial District.

Opened a private law practice in Wilkes in 2018 and represented clients in traffic, family, criminal, juvenile, child-support, and custody cases.

Serves as a district court judge after being sworn in at the Wilkes County Courthouse.

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.

- Opened a private law practice in Wilkes in 2018 and represented clients in traffic, family, criminal, juvenile, child-support, and custody cases.
- 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.

Legal Experience

(Question 3: What do you feel are the main issues connected with the position you seek?) “I’ve witnessed a disturbing trend in our courts as indifference towards the law, law enforcement and the judicial process continues to grow. For our court system to function at its best, where it is protecting the rights of citizens and ensuring community safety, we’ve got to enforce respect in the court system so we don’t end up with a situation where people are completely indifferent towards the court.
Mental health issues and substance abuse problems are both a major force behind cases that appear in our district courts. Addressing those needs in a court setting will help promote safety and protect the families in our community.”

(Question 1: Why are you running?) “The citizens in our district deserve hardworking judges. They deserve judges who are thorough, consistent, and fair. I intend to embody those traits while enforcing accountability and upholding the rule of law. I am a Christian and a Conservative and I will work hard every day to run an efficient court, honor both the Constitution of the State of North Carolina and the United States Constitution, and deliver justice without bias.”

Calls for enforcing respect in the court system to protect citizens' rights, support community safety, and prevent indifference toward the courts.

Plans to run an efficient court and deliver justice without bias.

Calls for addressing mental health and substance abuse needs in court settings to promote safety and protect families.

- Calls for enforcing respect in the court system to protect citizens' rights, support community safety, and prevent indifference toward the courts.
- Plans to run an efficient court and deliver justice without bias.
- Calls for addressing mental health and substance abuse needs in court settings to promote safety and protect families.

Judicial Administration

Luffman responded, “The citizens in our district deserve hardworking judges. They deserve judges who are thorough, consistent, and fair. I intend to embody those traits while enforcing accountability and upholding the rule of law. I am a Christian and a conservative and I will work hard every day to run an efficient court, honor both the Constitution of the State of North Carolina and the United States Constitution, and deliver justice without bias.

Further, the citizens in our district deserve a judge that shares their values, and with family and family heritage throughout the 23rd Judicial District, I have a strong knowledge of our citizens and the issues they face, and will give their cases the same attention and care that I would give to my own case.”

Plans to uphold the rule of law and honor the North Carolina and U.S. Constitutions while delivering justice without bias.

- Plans to uphold the rule of law and honor the North Carolina and U.S. Constitutions while delivering justice without bias.

Judicial Philosophy

As of January 5, 2026, Laura Byrd Luffman did not have a website or any information online.

Ethics & Conduct

Sits on the board of the North Wilkesboro Rotary Club.

Sits on the board of Wilkes Community Partnership for Children.

Sits on the board of the Wilkes Community Foundation.

Serves as secretary of Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes.

- Sits on the board of the North Wilkesboro Rotary Club.
- Sits on the board of Wilkes Community Partnership for Children.
- Sits on the board of the Wilkes Community Foundation.
- Serves as secretary of Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes.

Community Involvement

Instagram

LinkedIn

Laura Byrd Luffman

- Serves as a district court judge after being sworn in at the Wilkes County Courthouse.

- Plans to run an efficient court and deliver justice without bias.
- Calls for addressing mental health and substance abuse needs in court settings to promote safety and protect families.

As of January 5, 2026, Laura Byrd Luffman’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Laura is from North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. She attended Wilkes Central High School. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Appalachian State University and a law degree from Elon University School of Law. She lives with her husband, Zach Luffman, and their two children. She attends Wilkesboro Baptist Church.

Laura is an attorney. She works at the Law Office of Laura Byrd Luffman, PLLC in Wilkes, where she has been since 2018. She previously worked as a judicial extern in all four counties of North Carolina’s 23rd Judicial District, as a certified legal intern in the Yadkin County District Attorney’s office, and as an attorney with the law firm Finger, Roemer, Brown and Mariani, LLP in Yadkin County.

Laura Byrd Luffman’s campaign for District Court judge No. 3 in the 23rd Judicial District is her first entry into politics.

As an attorney, Luffman has experience as a judicial extern in multiple counties, a certified legal intern in a district attorney's office, and as an attorney at a law firm, before opening her own practice focused on District Court matters.

For Candidate Laura Byrd Luffman on Issue legal-experience:  
Worked as a judicial extern in the 23rd Judicial District, a certified legal intern in the Yadkin County District Attorney’s office, and as an attorney at Finger, Roemer, Brown and Mariani, LLP; opened her own practice focusing on District Court matters in 2018.

Serves on the boards of the North Wilkesboro Rotary Club, Wilkes Community Partnership for Children, Wilkes Community Foundation, and is Vice President and Secretary of the Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes.

Isaac Brickman

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.