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As a District Court Judge, Judge Owens: - Was elected to the District Court bench by the citizens of Mecklenburg County with over 57% of the popular vote and tremendous support of the attorneys of the local bar;
- Serves the citizens of Mecklenburg County with honor and distinction presiding over criminal, civil and family law matters;
- Volunteers his time to preside over the Truancy Court Intervention Program at Reid Park Elementary School, helping teachers, administrators, parents and high risk children find ways to address chronic tardiness and absenteeism;
- Serves, among other things, on the Domestic Court Bar Committee, the Criminal Courts Committee involved in the transition to the new County Courthouse, and acted as the liaison between the District, Superior and Criminal Magistrate judges;
- Demonstrated innovation by using new technology for monitoring alcohol consumption by repeat offenders and others suffering from addiction/abuse issues through the SCRAM alcohol monitoring ankle bracelet, assigning more individuals to that program than any other judge in the State of North Carolina. Judge Owens' success in using this program led to passage of legislation approving use of the device state-wide by the judiciary, the Department of Corrections and the Division of Motor Vehicles;
- Along with Attorney Bill Powers, was honored with a proclamation of bravery by the Mayor and City of Sunset Beach for the heroic rescue of a drowning woman and her 5 year old daughter while attending the Spring Judicial Conference and the annual conference of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers in 2006;
- Serves on the Board of Advisors for the May 20th Society, an organization dedicated to celebrating the spirit of Mecklenburg County;
- Has earned the reputation of a fair, contemplative and dedicated jurist who applies the law evenly and without prejudice; and
- Has earned the respect of attorneys, clerks, deputies and court staff with whom he works, as well as that of the citizens who appear before him.
As an attorney, Judge Owens: - Was a partner in the Law firm of Yurko & Owens, P.A., and a member of the North Carolina Bar beginning in 1994;
- Participated in a successful lobbying effort at the North Carolina Legislature to approve increased funding for Indigent Defense Services, which funds the various Public Defender and appointed attorney services throughout the state;
- Volunteered to act as the North Carolina Bar Association's liasion to the Domestic Violence Criminal Law Issues subcommittee's hearings; responsible for providing to the Representatives the perspective of practicing attorneys who are familiar with domestic violence prosecutions and advising them about what flaws are inherent to the system, and what changes could be beneficial;
- Volunteered to be part of a private attorney initiative to secure private funding to ensure continued operation of Mecklenburg County's highly successful Drug/Alcohol Treatment Courts; and
- Was a writer/presenter of the Criminal Law Update given to fellow trial lawyers at the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers' Annual Convention from 1992 until 2004.
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