ELIZABETHTOWN — With the backing of 88 fellow attorneys and judges that make up the bulk of the 13th Judicial District Bar, Jason Disbrow of Southport was approved as District Court judge, filling the term vacated by Judge Marion Warren.

Disbrow’s name will now be sent to Gov. Pat McCrory for final approval.

A total of 97 voting members of the 13th Judicial District Bar were present in the Bladen County Superior Courtroom, but nine resided outside the three-county district and could not vote.

“I’ve been doing this for 17 years, and have had experience in every kind of District Court proceeding there has been,” Disbrow said. “I feel very qualified, but I know I have very big shoes to fill and that’s not lost on me.”

Warren was recently appointed by N.C. Chief Justice Mark Martin as the interim director of the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts.

“I want to take this opportunity to give my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you as I move forward,” Warren told the bar members from Bladen, Columbus and Brunswick counties. “I won’t forget all the support and assistance I’ve received while working in all three courthouses as I bring a little of southwest North Carolina to the state judicial system.”

Allen M. Johnson, president of the 13th Judicial District Bar and an attorney with the Johnson & Johnson law firm in ELizabethtown, introduced Disbrow after the vote.

“It’s my pleasure to be sending Jason’s name to the governor’s desk,” Johnson said. “I know he will bring a lot of integrity, fairness and hard work to the District Court here.”

Disbrow said he never imagined becoming a judge when he want to law school.

“If someone had asked me about becoming a judge even a few years ago, I would have quickly dismissed the notion,” he said. “But a year or two ago, I started thinking about how we’re losing some good judges and I began to feel like I was the one who should step up.”

Once Disbrow’s appointment to the bench is approved by Gov. McCrory, he said he plans to file for the position and be on the November 2016 ballot.

W. Curt Vincent can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.

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W. Curt Vincent

cvincent@civitasmedia.com