Our Values. Our Voice. Our Judge. Republican Primary March 3rd, 2026
NC Judicial District Two - Beaufort, Hyde, Martin, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties.
Early voting begins February 12th.
About Shannon Jarvis
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ABOUT THE CANDIDATE
My name is Shannon Jarvis and I am running for District Court Judge for the Second Judicial District comprising Beaufort, Hyde, Martin, Tyrrell and Washington Counties. I was born in Belhaven, NC and raised most of my life in the Bath area of Beaufort County. My family is largely made of commercial fishermen, and I worked locally as a commercial fisherman myself during my teenage years.
I am married to Barrett Jarvis. He is a retired small business owner and works as a teacher at P.S. Jones Middle School. We live in Washington with our three children, Thomas (17), Upton (8), and Sutherland (4). My children stay busy with many activities which include Cub Scouts Pinetown Pack 258, dance, music, and sports which I fully support as a parent. We attend First Baptist Church in Washington, NC. In my free time, I enjoy baking, reading, and running.
What are you voting for in a District Court Judge?
Voting Jarvis for Judge is voting for tested legal knowledge as a Board Certified Specialist in State Criminal Law, a trusted prosecutor with over 16 years of legal experience, certified criminal justice instructor with 15 years of experience teaching students and law enforcement, a community advocate born and raised in Beaufort County, and the important perspective of a person with humble beginnings, a female, wife, and mother to three.
I would be honored to serve as your District Court Judge.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
I attended Bath Elementary school as a child and graduated early from Northside High School in December 2001. One accomplishment that I am very proud of is that I was the first person in my family to go to college. I worked at Pizza Inn in Washington, NC starting at 16 years old and continued working as a waitress through college and law school to support myself.
I graduated from Pitt Community College with honors in 2004 with an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Paralegal Technology. In 2006, I graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Sociology with a concentration in Law and Society. In 2009, I graduated from Florida Coastal School of Law with a Juris Doctor with Pro Bono Honors.
I have served on the Paralegal advisory board for Pitt Community College for over fifteen years as well as served as an instructor in the past. In 2023, I was awarded Pitt Community College’s most prestigious honor, the Distinguished Alumni award recognizing outstanding and uncommon achievement in my profession and service to the community and to Pitt Community College.
EXPERIENCE YOU CAN COUNT ON
In 2009, I was licensed by the North Carolina State Bar as an attorney and I have over sixteen years of legal experience. For over seven years, I proudly served as an Assistant District Attorney under the formerly elected District Attorney Seth Edwards, and I continue to serve as a trusted prosecutor now under our current District Attorney, Tom Anglim. I have prosecutorial and defense experience in District Court on a wide variety of cases, including but not limited to, domestic violence offenses, driving while impaired, felony probable cause hearings, juvenile delinquency matters, and traffic violations. I have also prosecuted and defended many jury trials on felony cases in Superior Court, including murder offenses. I am the only attorney residing in our judicial district that holds the title of a Board-Certified Specialist in State Criminal Law. This qualification demands significant experience in practicing criminal law, a peer review process, extra continuing legal education hours, a certain amount of jury trials to verdict, and the completion of an additional bar exam beyond the one required to become a licensed attorney.
The first half of my legal career was spent in private practice as an attorney handling a wide variety of legal matters and later, as an Assistant Public Defender representing indigent clients in Pitt County. I have formerly served as President to the Pitt County Criminal Defense Bar and I currently serve as Vice-President of the Beaufort County Voluntary Bar. In 2018, I played an integral part in the facilitation of Recovery Court which provides intensive court supervision to those struggling with substance use disorder. I have continued to serve in an active role organizing fundraising efforts, advising, and serving as a prosecutor for Recovery Court.
I am also a certified Criminal Justice instructor, teaching Basic Law Enforcement Training at Beaufort County and Martin Community Colleges for those individuals who want to serve as Deputies, Police Officers, and State Troopers. Since 2011, I have consistently taught courses in business, criminal justice, and paralegal programs at various college campuses.
I volunteer on a regular basis in our community, mostly for the advocacy and well-being of children. I volunteer regularly for our Beaufort County Teen Court program helping children avoid the criminal justice system, as well as introduce student volunteers to the court system in a mock trial format. Throughout my career, I have presided over and volunteered for countless primary school, high school, and college level mock trials. I serve on the board for Bright Futures for Beaufort County, as well as lead the Bright Future’s Bath Elementary School Site Council which help to provide basic needs for school children. I am a member of the Washington Rotary Club and truly embrace the Service Above Self motto.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY & EXPERIENCE
Every day, decisions are made in our courts that affect real people – families, children, and entire communities. As a judge, I will use the same principles that have guided me as a prosecutor-- to protect our families, hold offenders accountable, and keep the safety of the district in mind. I will always keep the Constitution first, and will follow the law in every decision that I make. I will administer justice in a fair and impartial way, giving compassion when it is called for, based on the circumstances of each case. As a prosecutor, I have sworn an oath to administer justice, and not merely seek convictions, and this will also serve me well as a judge. An impartial judiciary is essential for fair outcomes in the courtroom.
Having experience as both a prosecutor and as a public defender will allow me to serve our communities well from the District Court bench. I have a proven track record of standing firm under pressure, while also being known as fair, consistent, knowledgeable, and well-equipped in my work. As a prosecutor, I have worked diligently to improve courtroom efficiency, reduce delays, and ensure transparency; and I intend to continue those efforts if elected to serve as your District Court Judge.
I have a strong commitment to our community. I was born and raised here in Beaufort County, and have chosen to raise my family here as well. I believe that I have been called upon and led into public service. I have dedicated my career to public service, and I have dedicated my personal time to improve the community and district that I call home. As a child, I grew up in a family with meager financial means, with parents struggling with issues of substance abuse and domestic violence. I moved out of my parent's home at sixteen years of age, worked as a waitress to support myself through college, became an attorney, and now I am running for District Court Judge. I have beaten all the odds that were stacked against me and rose above these barriers. If elected, I will also keep the important perspective of a female, wife, and mother on the District Court Bench. The only female District Court Judge in our judicial district has left her seat. If I am not elected, the perspective of a female, wife and mother shall cease to exist on the District Court bench. I am also the only candidate who is married or has children. In addition to my extensive legal qualifications, my background, life experiences, and perspective enables me to be uniquely qualified in understanding the issues that would be regularly decided in front of me as a District Court Judge. These are issues such as child custody, child support, juvenile law, divorce, department of social service cases involving abuse, neglect, and foster care, but so much more. I do not come from a place of privilege and have a unique perspective of someone who understands the issues of marriage, children, and humble beginnings that I will carry to the bench.
Our community deserves a judge who will apply the law as it is written, without bias or favoritism. Our community also deserves a District Court Judge that is experienced and well rounded. This includes not only legal qualifications, but life experiences that matter. My commitment is simple: to be firm but fair, to uphold the Constitution, and to follow both the letter and spirit of the law. I stand for common sense leadership and that regular everyday people, such as myself, should serve in elected roles.
I ask for your vote for District Court Judge in the Republican Primary on March 3rd, 2026.