Current District Court Judges in Cumberland County

• All ten of Cumberland County’s District Court Judges, who are elected on a county-wide basis, are Democrats.
• Seven out of ten of our District Court Judges are women.
• Our District Court Judges, listed below, are elected to four-year terms:
  • Cheri Siler-Mack (term ends in 2026)
  • Rosalyn Hood (term ends in 2026)
  • Frances McDuffie (term ends in 2026)
  • Tracey Henderson (term ends in 2026)
  • David Hasty (term ends in 2026)
  • Cullen Jordan (term ends in 2028)
  • Lou Olivera (term ends in 2028)
  • Toni King (term ends in 2026)
  • Caitlin Evans (term ends in 2026)
  • Tiffany Whitfield (term ends in 2028)

District Court Judges hear misdemeanor criminal matters, traffic tickets, domestic and divorce cases, juvenile cases, and civil matters where the amount in controversy is less than $25,000, among other matters.

Current Superior Court Judges in Cumberland County

• District 12A – Stephen Stokes – Democrat (term ends in 2026)
• District 12B – Gale Adams – Democrat (term ends in 2028)
• District 12C – James “Jim” Ammons, Jr. – Unaffiliated (term ends in 2026)
• District 12C – George “Robby” Hicks – Republican (Term ends in 2030).

Superior Court Judges have “exclusive, original jurisdiction over all criminal actions not assigned to the district court.” They also hear civil matters with an amount in controversy exceeding $25,000, as well as other complex matters.

District Attorney and Other Offices

• Billy West, our long time District Attorney, whose office represents the State of North Carolina in criminal matters, is a Democrat.
• Andra Brewington, our Register of Deeds, is a Democrat.
• Lisa Scales, our Clerk of Superior Court, is a Democrat.
• Ennis Wright, our County Sheriff, is a Democrat. Sheriff Wright recently announced his retirement.

The Richardson Firm: Built to Serve Fayetteville’s Legal Needs

Attorneys Matt and Billy Richardson decided to stay in their hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and they built a law firm to serve the needs of their community. They believe that every individual should have a right to a great attorney. If you have a legal problem in Fayetteville, they will do their best to help you.

In addition to founding the firm, Billy Richardson served multiple terms in the North Carolina House of Representatives.

Specifically, Matt and Billy Richardson and Patrick Anstead represent the citizens of Fayetteville and Southeastern, North Carolina in civil matters, including:

• Personal Injury
• Medical Malpractice
• Auto Accidents
• Wrongful Death
• Eminent Domain and Property Law
• Insurance Disputes
• Civil Rights Violations
  

Family Law and Divorce in Fayetteville

The Richardson Firm has maintained a family law and divorce practice in Fayetteville for several years, helping spouses and family members navigate the complex and intimidating system that governs domestic relations in the State of North Carolina.

In 2023, Attorney Melinda Flinn joined our law firm as a domestic attorney. Melinda has been practicing family law in Cumberland County for over twenty years, and she has gained a reputation as a steady and courageous advocate. She routinely appears in front of many of the District Court Judges who hear domestic cases. Specifically, she serves the residents of Fayetteville and Cumberland County in the following areas:

• Child custody and visitation
• Child support
• Alimony
• Equitable Distribution (Property and debt division)
• Divorce
• Annulment
• Separation agreements
• Contempt
• Termination of parental rights
• Adoption
• Collaborative Law
  • Melinda has trained and participated in the Collaborative Law aspect of family law as an alternative to litigation.

Fort Bragg Traffic Tickets and DWI

Residents of Fayetteville and Fort Bragg who are charged with a traffic offense on federal land will be ordered to appear to answer the charges in federal court. While there are numerous attorneys practicing traffic law in Fayetteville, there are few who are licensed to practice in Federal Court. Seeing this need, Attorney Patrick Anstead has developed a robust defense practice. Patrick routinely appears in federal court on behalf of military and non-military residents who receive traffic tickets and DUI/DWI charges on Fort Bragg.

Keep in mind, our firm can also assist you in county court for routine traffic offenses that occur outside of Fort Bragg. If you get a traffic ticket in Cumberland County, give us a call. We can often help.

Criminal Charges in Fayetteville

Attorney Patrick Anstead routinely represents individuals charged with traffic, misdemeanor, and felony offenses in District and Superior Court. If you are charged with a criminal offense, a conviction could have a lasting and detrimental impact on your future. Do not go unrepresented. Get an attorney with the experience and the knowledge of Fayetteville’s court system.

The Richardson Firm: Local Attorneys for Local Problems

If you live in Fayetteville or Cumberland County, and you’re in need of an attorney, call us at 910-488-5050. If we are not able to assist with your specific issue, we can use our knowledge of the Fayetteville area to get you pointed in the right direction.

Many of these firms have gone state-wide, commercializing the practice of law beyond recognition. Millions of dollars are spent every month. It’s a race to the bottom. To make matters worse, some of the most rampant advertisers have no attorneys in your hometown. Instead, they open up a satellite office to take your case and send it somewhere else.

A Better Alternative for Fayetteville

At The Richardson Firm, we pride ourselves on serving our community. Our attorneys live, work, and raise their families in Fayetteville. We build trust and strong relationships with our clients, and in the last analysis, we believe it remains a better way to do business.

If you’re in need of an attorney, we hope you’ll consider The Richardson Firm. We’d be glad to help, and if we can’t, we will use our knowledge and contacts to get you to someone who can.

Billy Richardson ‘80, a Fayetteville attorney who served in the North Carolina Legislature for more than a decade, and Barbara Richardson, who holds a master’s degree in special education, have given the law school a substantial gift to support the addition of a sixth pro bono clinic focusing on protection of the educational rights of children with disabilities.

“It is a real honor to be a part of this clinic,” Billy Richardson told the group of some 60 invitees gathered in the law school’s Pope Foyer. “Special education has meant so much to our family. This clinic enables us to be part of something bigger than ourselves.”

The Richardsons’ daughter Caroline McGann, is an occupational therapist, and their sons, Matt ‘09 and Zack ‘17, are also Campbell Law alumni, making support of the clinic a true family affair.

Read More Here

Patrick Anstead, an attorney at The Richardson Firm, was recently featured on WRAL News for his work in a Civil Rights case:

Hoke County Sheriff’s Office pays $75,000 to settle wrongful arrest lawsuit (wral.com)

The Hoke County Sheriff’s Office has settled a civil rights lawsuit for $75,000 with a woman who claimed she was wrongfully arrested and unlawfully detained.

The sheriff’s office on Oct. 3 agreed to settle Samantha Fugate’s civil rights claims, which alleged that deputies had falsely charged her with felon in possession of a firearm by providing false information to a magistrate to secure a felony warrant against her.

Fugate, who had a legally registered firearm, was arrested due to deputies’ mistaken belief that she had a felony conviction in Colorado.

The arrest occurred when deputies responded to a routine call and found the firearm in her possession despite her cooperation and valid identification. Although Fugate had a clean record, she spent two days in the Hoke County Detention Center before posting bail. The charges against her were later dropped.

“Deputies had reasonable grounds to know the information they were providing to the magistrate was false but proceeded anyway,” Patrick R. Anstead, Fugate’s attorney said. “The charging officer made false statements under oath in reckless disregard for Ms. Fugate’s civil rights.”

Attorney Patrick Anstead represents individuals in civil rights cases in Fayetteville and Eastern, North Carolina.

The Richardson Firm attorney Patrick Anstead recently helped a client receive a $60,000 settlement and a written apology from the Fayetteville Police Department.

Read the full article from CBS17 here: https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/cumberland-county-news/woman-wrongfully-arrested-in-fayetteville-drive-by-shooting-case-receives-settlement-from-police/

Congratulations to our Senior Attorney Billy Richardson on his return to the North Carolina Legislature!!! Billy served previously in the N.C. House of Representatives from 1992-1996. He will continue to practice law with The Richardson Firm while representing the people of Cumberland County in Raleigh. Read more about Billy’s appointment on the following links:

Billy Richardson Sworn in at State House

Glazier Successor Back in North Carolina House – WRAL

http://electbillyrichardson.com/

Attorney Billy Richardson has announced his intention to fill the vacancy left by Representative Rick Glazier’s resignation from his seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives. The vacancy will be filled by a committee from the local Democratic Party.

Billy served previously in the legislature from 1992-1996.

Writers from the Fayetteville Observer have given Billy “front-runner” status:

http://www.fayobserver.com/blogs/news/peoples_business/people-s-biz-ed-melvin-withdraws-from-consideration-for-glazier/article_1115a5e8-145f-11e5-a795-b35b49496f06.html