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Josephine Kerr Davis earned a law degree from Duke University. She is a married mother.

Who's Running For Durham County District Attorney and Sheriff?

Josephine is a judge for District 16B Seat 3 of the North Carolina 1st Superior Court Division. She was first elected in 2024.

2026 North Carolina General Election

2.1 Judicial Candidate Resource Guide 

As superior court judge, she oversees cases involving criminal felonies, the administration of wills and estates, evictions of renters, and divorce proceedings, and exercises authority to review and correct the rulings of lower courts.

- As superior court judge, she oversees cases involving criminal felonies, the administration of wills and estates, evictions of renters, and divorce proceedings, and exercises authority to review and correct the rulings of lower courts.

Legal Experience

2018 candidate questionnaire, question 8, on judicial responsibility for addressing racial disparities in the criminal-justice system: “More specifically, to address racial disparities, judges should encourage parties to participate in diversionary and restorative justice pleas as well as utilize probationary sentences coupled with mental health and substance abuse conditions.”

Josephine Kerr Davis - Durham County Superior Court Judge Candidate

2018 candidate questionnaire, question 6, on determining whether pretrial incarceration is appropriate and whether to use a bail schedule: “In determining whether pretrial incarceration is appropriate, I will be guided by the law in North Carolina as well as the Pre-Trial Justice Institute which defines the 3 M’s of justice: maximize liberty; maximize public safety; maximize court appearance.”

2018 candidate questionnaire, question 7, on changes to the cash-bail system: “The need for bail reform is an important conversation that must occur with social justice reformers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, elected officials, communities and grassroots organizations across the state. As a prosecutor, there has never been a time that I requested a cash-only bond. Relying heavily on my criminal defense experience, I understood the gravity of a cash-only bond, which requires gross financial capital for freedom.”

2018 candidate questionnaire, question 7, on cash bail: “In my fifteen years of legal experience prosecuting violent and non-violent offenders, I have never experienced a situation where it was necessary to require a cash bond versus a secured bond. Thus, if elected I will have that same mind set with respect to cash bonds.”

2018 candidate questionnaire, question 8, on judicial responsibility for addressing racial disparities in the criminal-justice system: “Judges also must recognize that tied to racial disparities are economic disparities, and judges must be mindful of the negative impact of excessive fines, fees, and costs.”

2018 candidate questionnaire, question 8, on judicial responsibility for addressing racial disparities: “Judicial officials are in a position, like Judge Weeks was, to apply the law and render just decisions that address racial disparities and transform the criminal justice system. If elected, I will rely on my experiences as both a public defender and prosecutor to administer justice on a case by case basis, recognizing that the one size fits all approach to justice destroys lives.”

Advocates individualized bond decisions rather than relying on bond schedules that have not been revised.

2018 candidate questionnaire, question 6, on bail schedules: “The bond schedule is merely a suggestion that judicial officials may reference, however judicial officials should use their discretion and deviate from the suggested bond guidelines when imposing bond amounts that will restrict liberty and freedom. The accused, the victims and the facts are unique to each specific offense, thus a bond schedule, that isn’t revised annually, fails to provide equity for everyone in the community. Judges must be wary of the ‘one size fits all’ method of setting bonds as this approach harms the community and is not rooted in equity and fairness. If elected, I will use my discretion to provide the fairness the schedule doesn’t naturally provide.”

Advocates diversionary and restorative-justice pleas and probation conditions addressing mental health and substance abuse to reduce racial disparities.

Said pretrial incarceration decisions should maximize liberty, public safety, and court appearance under North Carolina law.

Calls for a statewide bail-reform discussion involving justice-system stakeholders, communities, and grassroots organizations.

Plans to maintain her approach of not requiring cash bonds.

Said judges must account for economic disparities and the negative effects of excessive fines, fees, and costs.

Plans to administer justice case by case rather than through a one-size-fits-all approach.

- Advocates diversionary and restorative-justice pleas and probation conditions addressing mental health and substance abuse to reduce racial disparities.
- Said pretrial incarceration decisions should maximize liberty, public safety, and court appearance under North Carolina law.
- Calls for a statewide bail-reform discussion involving justice-system stakeholders, communities, and grassroots organizations.
- Plans to maintain her approach of not requiring cash bonds.
- Said judges must account for economic disparities and the negative effects of excessive fines, fees, and costs.
- Plans to administer justice case by case rather than through a one-size-fits-all approach.

Judicial Administration

2018 candidate questionnaire, question 3: “In a sentence, how would you define your judicial philosophy?” Davis answered: “My judicial philosophy is rooted in the principle that justice requires accountability for one’s actions and mercy for our mistakes.”

2018 candidate questionnaire, question 4, on political beliefs and judicial approach: “As a liberal, it is my firm belief that the overarching responsibility of the government is to ensure equal opportunity and equality for all. From a historical perspective, the fabric of this country is deeply woven with threads that have disenfranchised, discriminated and silenced the voices and freedoms of the non-majority. Thus, as a liberal, I believe that the role of the judiciary is to ensure equality for all of those who are justice involved. Throughout my career, I have been guided by the principle that my responsibility is to fight for justice, fairness and equality. If elected to serve as a Superior Court Judge, I will be guided by the responsibility to follow the law; however I recognize that with judicial discretion comes the responsibility to be firmly planted on the side of equality and fairness.”

2018 candidate questionnaire, question 8, on addressing racial disparities: “As a judge one must be mindful of how unemployment, underemployment, over-policing and over-prosecution impacts communities of color. If elected, I am committed to listening to community partners and continuing to participate in trainings that address the mass incarceration crisis and the role of the judiciary.”

Pledges to continue race-equity training to inform judicial decision-making.

2018 candidate questionnaire, question 8, on addressing racial disparities: “Moreover, I am mindful and committed to race-equity training, training that has already allowed me to make decisions as a prosecutor that are thoughtful and cognizant of how racism is deeply entrenched in the fabric of our community. I will continue to use that training as I am mindful of how over-policing and over-sentencing disrupts familial cohesion, causes recidivism and fosters intergenerational poverty.”

Said justice requires accountability for actions and mercy for mistakes.

Pledges to follow the law while using judicial discretion to advance equality and fairness.

Pledges to listen to community partners and pursue training on mass incarceration and the judiciary's role.

- Said justice requires accountability for actions and mercy for mistakes.
- Pledges to follow the law while using judicial discretion to advance equality and fairness.
- Pledges to listen to community partners and pursue training on mass incarceration and the judiciary's role.

Judicial Philosophy

As of January 5, 2026, Josephine Kerr Davis did not have a website or any information online.

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

Josephine Kerr Davis

As of January 5, 2026, Josephine Kerr Davis’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Judge Davis is a graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and North Carolina Central University School of Law. Judge Davis is a former adjunct professor at North Carolina Central University School of Law, Durham Technical Community College and Concord School of Law.

Meet the 21 judges and justices beginning their MJS studies at Duke Law in 2023

She has been a member of the People’s Alliance and Durham Democratic Women, as well as a former instructor at Durham Technical Community College. She also served on the advisory board of the Durham Expunction and Restoration (DEAR) program, which worked to provide increased access to expunctions, certificates for relief and driver’s license restoration.

Who’s running: Durham County DA, sheriff, and judiciary

Josephine Kerr Davis graduated from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and North Carolina Central University School of Law. She served on the advisory board of the Durham Expunction and Restoration program.

Meet the 21 judges and justices beginning their MJS studies at Duke ...

As a civil attorney, Judge Davis assisted attorneys who represented African American and female farmers that faced discrimination by the Department of Agriculture. She also worked as an Assistant Attorney General representing the State when there were violations of labor and environmental laws.

Josephine Kerr Davis previously worked as an Assistant Attorney General and as an adjunct professor at North Carolina Central University School of Law, Durham Technical Community College, and Concord School of Law.

In November of 2018, Judge Davis was elected by the voters of Durham County to serve a term of eight years as a Superior Court Judge. She hears both civil and criminal cases throughout the State of North Carolina.

Josephine was elected by Durham County voters as a Superior Court Judge in 2018 for an eight-year term.

Dismissed 70,000 misdemeanor and traffic-related offenses that prevented people from seeking employment and receiving driver’s licenses.

Serves as a Superior Court Judge, hearing civil and criminal cases throughout North Carolina.

Worked as a defense attorney, defending the rights of people charged with felonies and misdemeanors.

Worked as a prosecutor while safeguarding accused people’s rights and seeking public safety.

Worked as an Assistant Attorney General representing the state in cases involving labor and environmental law violations.

Served on the advisory board of the Durham Expunction and Restoration program, which worked to increase access to criminal-record clearing and driver’s license restoration.

Josephine is a judge on the North Carolina Superior Court. Before taking the bench, she worked as a defense attorney and a prosecutor. She also served as an assistant attorney general for the state of North Carolina. 

Josephine is currently a superior court judge for North Carolina's 16th Judicial District. She was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2020.

Josephine Kerr Davis - Ballotpedia

As a civil attorney, assisted African American and female farmers facing discrimination by the Department of Agriculture.

As an Assistant Attorney General, represented the State in cases involving violations of labor and environmental laws.

Served on the advisory board of the Durham Expunction and Restoration (DEAR) program to increase access to expunctions and driver’s license restoration.

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

- The Superior Court Judge hears both civil and criminal cases. Superior Court Judges try civil cases involving more than $10,000. Superior Court Judge hear appeals of misdemeanors and infraction cases that were first heard in the District Court,
- They make decisions on bail, meaning a Superior Court Judge could keep a non-dangerous person in jail before they are convicted by setting a high bail.
- In each district (except Wake County), the most senior judge in years of service is designated the senior resident superior court judge. They are responsible for various administrative duties, including appointing magistrates and some other court officials, and managing the scheduling of civil cases for trial.
- Superior court judges rotate among the districts within their divisions.  
- The Superior Court Judge is elected for 8-year terms. Elections are partisan.

Trial Judge who hears criminal and civil cases