BY NICOLE BOWMAN-LAYTON

EDENTON – Two seasoned judicial officers addressed Chowan County Democratic Party supporters at Saturday’s candidate meet and greet at Homestead, outlining their experience and commitment to fair, impartial justice as they prepare for reelection campaigns in 2026.

Edenton Town Council candidates Elton Bond, Regina Bond, and Aaron Coston also attended the event. Coverage of their speeches and answers to questions will appear in a separate article.

Superior Court Judge Eula Reid: 25 Years of Judicial Experience

Superior Court Judge Eula Reid, appointed in May 2024 following Judge Jerry Tillett’s retirement, brings a quarter-century of legal experience to the bench. A native of Elizabeth City who graduated from Elizabeth City State University with a degree in political science and minor in criminal justice, Reid worked eight years as a paralegal before earning her law degree from North Carolina Central University.

Reid’s judicial career began in 2006 when voters first elected her as a district court judge, a position she held for 15 years.

“I have spent my life, my legal career, trying to improve our judicial system,” Reid told the gathering. Her background includes eight years as an assistant district attorney, prosecuting cases ranging from traffic violations to capital murder.

After serving as Superior Court judge from 2021-2022, Reid’s bid for re-election was unsuccessful. She returned to the bench earlier this year after being appointed by Gov. Josh Stein.

“I am firm, but I’m fair, and I believe that everyone has to have a right to have their voice heard in court,” she said. “I apply the law evenly, regardless of who appears before me.”

Reid emphasized her deep connection to the First Judicial District, which spans from Gates County to Dare County.

“I love this community. I love this district,” she said, noting her commitment to building grassroots campaign support across all seven counties in the district.

Jenny Wells: From Public Defense to the Bench

District Court Judge Jenny Wells, appointed by Stein in March 2024, earned the top recommendation from local attorneys when the position became available. “I was the number one vote getter among the attorneys in this district. So I had the support of my peers, and now I’m asking for your support,” Wells explained.

Originally from Elizabeth City but raised in Dare County, Wells’ path to the bench included an unusual detour. While attending Tulane University, Hurricane Katrina forced her to complete a semester at Duke University before graduating from Tulane in spring 2006. The disruption delayed her law school plans, leading her to work in mental health for three years before attending Campbell University Law School.

Wells returned to eastern North Carolina to be near her aging parents, settling five houses down from them in Kitty Hawk. She spent 11 years as a public defender in the First Judicial District before her judicial appointment, giving her extensive courtroom experience across all seven counties.

“We are very lucky to have great judges, great DAs, great public defenders, great private defense attorneys in this area,” Wells said, praising the local legal community.

Commitment to Principles Under Pressure

Both judges addressed concerns about increasing political pressure on the judiciary. When asked about maintaining judicial independence amid current challenges, Reid was direct: “You cannot base a decision on a case that’s before you based on outside information. If I have to make a decision that may not be popular and the law tells me that that’s what I have to do, then that’s what I’m going to do.”

Wells echoed this commitment, noting pressure on elected officials to switch parties.

“I am sticking to my principles, and that’s not something that I’m ever willing to compromise on, no matter how hard the battle in front of us is,” she said.

Wells described her judicial philosophy with advice from a retired Orange County judge: “Everyone that comes into your courtroom, look them in the eye, tell them good morning or good afternoon, and call them by their name. Because no matter what they did, they deserve to be treated with respect, they deserve to be treated with dignity.”

Building Campaign Infrastructure

Both candidates are in early stages of building campaign organizations across the seven-county district. Reid has begun developing her website and assembling a “kitchen cabinet” of supporters, while Wells has established her online presence at judgejennywells.com with social media accounts and advertising.

“We definitely need support here to run our campaign in Chowan County,” Reid said, acknowledging that her previous unsuccessful Superior Court campaign suffered from insufficient local outreach.

Wells emphasized the grassroots nature of her fundraising efforts: “I right now am my own campaign manager and treasurer and social media manager, so I absolutely am looking for help.”

The judges encourage supporters to contribute through their websites or by checks made out to their respective campaign committees. As Reid noted, “For me, if you give me a dollar, that means that you’re interested enough to vote for me, and so I’m excited about that. I want it to be a people’s campaign.”

Both judicial races will appear on the November 2026 ballot, giving the candidates nearly two years to build support across their expansive district.