Meet The Candidate: Alicia Brooks For Superior Court Judge

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, NC —In addition to voting for president and vice president of the United States in the Nov. 3 general election, voters in Mecklenburg County, will choose delegates for the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, the North Carolina General Assembly, county commission, as well as superior court and district court judges.

Alicia Brooks is a 54-year-old attorney and Democrat who is running for Judicial District 26A

As part of its coverage of the 2020 election, Patch has asked candidates in local races to fill out a questionnaire to describe why they think they're the best person to fill the job they're running for.

Are you running for office in Mecklenburg County? Contact Kimberly Johnson at kimberly.johnson@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Charlotte Patch.

Alicia D. Brooks

Age (as of Election Day)

54

Town/City of Residence

Matthews

If you are running for local office, or in a district, please specify. (District 1, Commissioner at-large, etc.)

Judicial District 26A

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

I have been married to my husband, Jerome Brooks, for 31 years. I have three daughters ages 16, 24, and 26. My children were born and raised in Charlotte and attended Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Schools. My oldest two are college graduates and my youngest is a junior at Butler High School.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

no

Education

I graduated from UNC - Chapel Hill for undergraduate and Law School. I received a Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Political Science and a Juris Doctorate degree.

Occupation

I have been a licensed attorney for 28 years. I served as an assistant Public Defender, an assistant District attorney, an owner of my own law firm, and a District Court Judge. I currently work as a Judicial Hearing officer.

Campaign website

aliciabrooksforjudge.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

District Court Judge

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most important issue facing our court system is access to justice. Many people are denied access because of financial restrictions and others are denied because of their race. As a Superior Court Judge, I intend to be a jurist who is mindful of implicit bias and do my best to insure that every one who appears before me are treated fairly and impartiality regardless of race or socioeconomic background.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

As a judicial candidate, I am limited in the responses I can give to this question. I know that there are racial disparities in our country and segments of our population who are frustrated at the lack of progress in race relations in America. Our criminal justice system continues to produce disparate outcomes for people of color. We must elect leaders who are aware of race discrimination and who are thoughtful, insightful, and collaborative in their efforts to find solutions to these complex issues.

What are your thoughts on the campaign to "defund" the police?

Judicial candidates are not permitted to comment on issues that may prevent them from being fair and impartial or on cases that may come before them.

What are your thoughts on the state and national response to the coronavirus pandemic? Do you favor such measures as limiting operation of non-essential businesses or restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a nationwide mask mandate?

I have continued to work in the courthouse throughout the pandemic providing services to those who needed help with important legal matters such as incompetency and estate matters. I appreciate the efforts of our Chief Justice in passing executive orders to protect the employees in the court system from this deadly virus. Because of her leadership, we have remained safe and have been able to help the public.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

The critical difference between myself and my opponent is that I have a broader breadth of experience and a stronger connection to the community. I have served the community from the beginning of my career as a public servant. I have worked outside of the courtroom to improve the lives of our citizens by volunteering in our public schools as a truancy court judge. I worked as a judge in Mental Health court and Recovery Court to assist the most vulnerable in our community gain access to resources and treatment.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I believe that as public servants, Judges should be accountable to the citizens they serve and accessible to the all people who come into the courthouse asking to be heard. The actions of a judge should be to know the law, listen to the facts, and to apply the law fairly.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My past accomplishments which are evidence of my ability to handle this job is establishing my own law firm and running it successfully for twelve years. As a skilled trial attorney in Superior Court, I was knowledgeable about the law and I earned the respect of my colleagues and the public, and as a result, I was elected in 2014 to become a District Court Judge. In my job as a District Court Judge, I served in nearly all of our courtrooms. I presided in Family court, domestic violence, child support, criminal, and civil court. I managed the tremendous caseloads and was efficient and fair in my rulings. The skills that I learned will make me an excellent Superior Court Judge.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

If I am able to bring a sense of confidence in the justice system and improve access to justice to all citizens then I will consider my term in office a success.

Why should voters trust you?

Voters should trust me because I have proven myself to be a dedicated and trustworthy public servant for the last 28 years. My record of commitment and service to Mecklenburg County and my unwavering support for this community are evidence that the citizens can count on me to be ethical, accountable, and transparent.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

It is my belief that more money should be allocated to improving the technology in our court system. Computers, scanners, video, recording, texting court date reminders to the public, and electronic filing would greatly improve how our courts operate. This technology would also benefit the public we serve by reducing court time and missed court dates.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

There is no reason that I would not be able to serve my full 8 year term.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best advice that was ever shared with me was "Service is the rent we pay for living on this earth."

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have been a Judge and I understand the need to have judges who are connected to the communities they serve. I was at the forefront of efforts to assist those with mental illness and drug addiction who enter our court system. I volunteered in our schools to prevent our children from entering the criminal justice system. I worked to help returning citizens to expunge their records so that they could participate more fully in our democracy. I care about this community and I want to serve you as a Superior Court Judge.