Orange County NC Website
4 <br /> significantly he treats everyone in his courtroom with dignity and equity. She said he has <br /> transformed the justice system in Orange County, and has never been afraid to make difficult <br /> and unpopular decisions. She said he has held people accountable and issued sentences that <br /> were stiff. She said he held everyone to the highest standards, and exemplified judicial integrity <br /> in his court. <br /> Caitlin Fenhagen expressed congratulations on Judge Fox's retirement, and <br /> appreciation to his wife Julia. <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> Judge Carl Fox has served as the Senior Resident Superior Judge in 15-B since 2005, when he <br /> was first sworn in. He has served with distinction in that role for over fifteen years. <br /> Judge Fox previously served as the District Attorney for Orange and Chatham counties. He was <br /> appointed in 1984, elected in 1986, then re-elected four more times before his eventual <br /> appointment as a Superior Court Judge. <br /> Judge Fox has served the residents of Orange and Chatham County honorably and tirelessly for <br /> over 30 years. He made the decision to retire at the end of September 2020, and he leaves a <br /> legacy of judicial integrity, courage in the face of extreme hardship and a career dedicated to <br /> ensuring equity and fairness for all. Staff requests that the Board formally adopt the attached <br /> resolution recognizing Judge Fox for his service and impact in Orange County. <br /> Chair Rich read the resolution: <br /> RES-2020-063 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> RESOLUTION OF RECOGNITION FOR JUDICIAL DISTRICT 15-B SENIOR RESIDENT <br /> SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE CARL R. FOX UPON HIS RETIREMENT <br /> WHEREAS, Judge Carl R. Fox has served as the Senior Resident Superior Court Judge in <br /> Orange and Chatham counties since his appointment in 2005, and following multiple elections <br /> since, has served in this role for fifteen years; and <br /> WHEREAS, Judge Fox previously served as the District Attorney for Orange and Chatham <br /> counties since being sworn in 1984. He was elected in 1986 and then re-elected in 1990, 1994, <br /> 1998 and 2002; and <br /> WHEREAS, Judge Fox was the first African-American District Attorney and first African- <br /> American judge in Judicial District 15-13; and <br /> WHEREAS, Judge Fox has served with distinction and honor and has received state and <br /> national recognition for his jurisprudence and integrity, including "Citizen of the Year" from the <br /> Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce in 1989, the "Courage Award" in 2016 from the <br /> Martin Luther King, Jr. Day University Committee and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from <br /> Governor Roy Cooper in 2020; and <br /> WHEREAS, Judge Fox has provided countless hours to our community through visits to <br /> schools, mentoring lawyers and serving on numerous boards including the Governor's Crime <br /> Commission, the SECU House Steering Committee, the Ronald McDonald House, the NC <br /> Courts Commission and the Criminal Justice Partnership Program; and <br />