Meet The Candidate: District Judge Rex Marvel Seeking Reelection

CHARLOTTE, 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.

Rex Marvel is a 33-year-old Democrat seeking reelection as a District Court Judge.

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.

Judge Rex Marvel

Age (as of Election Day)

33

Town/City of Residence

CHARLOTTE

Office Sought

Local offices (including countywide offices and school boards)

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

Mecklenburg County

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Wife Bonnie and Two Sons ages 4 and 1.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No, I am the only one of my siblings to graduate from college and I am the first person in my family to run for office.

Education

Florida State University B.S. Political Science and Religion (Magna Cum Laude) University of Cincinnati College of Law J.D.

Occupation

District Court Judge - Family Court 1 year (Appointed by Governor Roy Cooper in 2019 after being nominated by lawyers in Mecklenburg County)
Adjunct Professor of Legal Writing - 4 years
I worked as an Assistant Public Defender prior to becoming Judge

Campaign website

www.KeepJudgeMarvel.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Current District Court Judge Seat 9.

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

COVID-19 has been a struggle for so many in our community. This pandemic has exposed inequities in our system and burdened our already overloaded court system. During this pandemic domestic violence has also been on the rise. I am one of the Judges on the Domestic Violence Committee and we have never stopped hearing matters of Domestic Violence Protective Orders. We began to utilize new technology, safely open new courtrooms and prioritized our courthouse to accommodate victims of domestic violence.

As District Court Judge I am and will continue to work with stakeholders during the pandemic to ensure the the court system remains open and accessible to everyone that seeks justice.

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?

Black Lives Matter. As a nation we have to accept and address the inequities that exist. I have been part of the conversation surrounding this and want to help be part of the solution. As a judge I cannot however make policy or laws. What I can do is encourage my colleagues to participate with me in Implicit Bias Training, work to make our court equitable and to operate my courtroom in a manner that is fair and respectful to everyone.

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

As I mentioned above, our country must come to terms with the historical inequities that exist however, I am a judge - I do not make law or policy and I cannot give my opinions on matters such as "defund the police" as it is prohibited by the Judicial Code of Conduct.

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 cannot comment on laws or policy as a Judge. I can however address what we have been able to do as a court system in Mecklenburg County. We have brought new technology so that people do not have to come to court, we have never stopped hearing matters of domestic violence protective orders or emergency custody petitions, we enforce a mask mandate in the courthouse, we have plexiglass barriers in all courtrooms, we have hand sanitizer and wipes throughout the courthouse, and we limit the number of people in every courtroom based on recommendations of health experts. We have never shut down the courthouse in Mecklenburg County. We have remained an essential function of the government.

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

I have been endorsed by over one dozen current and retired judges, by state senators, county commissioners, city and town council members, school board members, our sheriff, over one hundred attorneys, The Black Political Caucus, The International Minority Coalition, Equality North Carolina and The North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys because of my commitment to our community and our court system. I work every day to ensure our court system is fair, equitable and accessible. I do not bring politics into the court house but instead work everyday with stakeholders to keep our justice system working for the people who need it most.

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 am a Family Court Judge working for families and children in Mecklenburg County.

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

During COVID-19 not only were we able to bring new technologies that made the courthouse safer but also made the process more efficient. Personally, I worked to keep the community informed about changes and new technologies through weekly Facebook Livestreams as well as interviews with local news and radio. I have been able to adapt and improve the system for everyone while working to keep our community safe and informed.

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

To continue to bring in new technology to make our court system more efficient, more accessible and easier to navigate.

Why should voters trust you?

As a child my life was impacted by the court system. My mother struggled with a drug addiction that brought my family to court. I know what it is like to have a judge determine where you will live. That is why I am committed to my role as judge and that is why I am continuing to work to make the court experience better for the families and children that I serve.

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

The Judicial Branch in North Carolina is one of our three branches of government yet we receive less than 3% of the States overall budget. Of course I have an opinion on this however, fiscal policy and government spending is up to the legislators in the NC General Assembly.

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

I intend on serving our community as a judge for many more years.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." - John Wesley

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

I love my job. I am thankful to the lawyers in Mecklenburg County for nominating me the the position and grateful for Gov. Roy Cooper for appointing me. I hope that the voters will see that I am committed to serving because my life was impacted by the court system as a child. I work every day to ensure our courts are fair, equitable and accessible. I am your judge working for families and children and I humbly ask for your vote.

SEE ALSO:

• Early Voting To Begin This Week In Charlotte: 5 Things To Know
• 2020 Election: Absentee Ballot Requests Surge In Mecklenburg