Governor Stein Appoints Two New District Court Judges

RALEIGH – Gov. Josh Stein has appointed two attorneys to fill vacancies on the North Carolina District Court bench.

A. Michelle Lippert was appointed to District Court Judicial District 36, serving Burke, Caldwell and Catawba counties. She will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Richard Holloway.

Lippert has served as managing partner at Beyer & Lippert, PLLC since 2021. She previously spent six years working in the District Attorney’s Office in Prosecutorial District 25.

She earned a bachelor’s degree from Miami University and her law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law.

Christy Malott was appointed to District Court Judicial District 16, which serves Durham County. She will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Clayton Jones.

Malott currently serves as senior assistant county attorney in the Durham County Attorney’s Office.

She previously worked for seven years with the Durham Guardian ad Litem Program, including as a court-appointed guardian ad litem and later as a staff attorney. She also spent more than seven years as a senior staff attorney with JusticeMatters.

Malott earned a bachelor’s degree from Duke University and her law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law.

“Michelle Lippert and Christy Malott are experienced attorneys who have dedicated themselves to the practice of the law,” Stein said. “Their judgement and experience are invaluable, and I look forward to their service on the bench.”