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WINTON – For the first time in North Carolina history, a father and his daughter will serve together as District Court judges.

That fact was made official here New Year’s Day when W. Rob Lewis II and Takiya Lewis Blalock respectively raised their right hand and accepted the oath of office as a District Court Judge in Judicial District 7 (Bertie, Halifax, Hertford, and Northampton counties).

The ceremony, presided over by Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Cy Grant, was held in the Hertford County Courthouse.

For Judge Lewis, it marked the beginning of his 22^nd year as a District Court Judge. His daughter, meanwhile, is donning a black robe for the very first time after being elected this past November.

The father-daughter duo previously worked together in the Lewis Law Firm of Ahoskie during a time period that Judge Lewis spent away from the bench.

After receiving his oath of office from Chief District Court Judge Teresa Freeman, Judge Lewis administered the oath to his daughter.

But before doing so, he asked his two other children, Robbie and Kadija, to stand.

“I love all of my children the same, hopefully as much as I love my grandchildren, but this is, besides your births, the proudest moment of my life,” said Judge Lewis.

It took Judge Blalock several minutes to gain control of her joyful emotions after accepting her oath.

“First and foremost I have to thank the Lord,” she said, her voice still trembling. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be standing here today with all these distinguished people, to include my daddy. You see, in a different world he would be retired and unable to swear me in. But God had a different plan. He swore me in as a lawyer, so it’s only fitting that he swear me in as a judge.”

She thanked her husband, Nick, for his unwavering support. She thanked her siblings, her friends, and all who have shown support throughout her career in law.

The new judge also paid special tribute to her parents.

“They instilled in me the importance of hard work, the importance of not taking the easy way out, and the necessity of being exceptional and not accepting mediocrity, and how to be steady and faithful,” she stressed.

As a judge, Blalock promised fairness.

“I will use my experience in law to make sound judgments,” she said. “I will be compassionate because a judge without fairness or compassion does not promote justice.

“I look around at our world and it’s not the one I grew up in,” Blalock continued. “This is not the world I began practicing law in. So many things have changed, and not necessarily for the better. But what hasn’t changed is my commitment to my community, my commitment to the law, and making sure that people are heard.”

 

She turned and nodded to Judge Grant and to her father upon recognizing some of the role models she has had in her life.

“I’ve been watching them. They laid the foundation for me to be here today. Thanks to all of you for putting your trust in me and I don’t take that lightly. I promise to serve you all with fairness, compassion, and diligence,” Judge Blalock closed.

Born and raised in Ahoskie, Blalock is a product of the Hertford County Public School system. After attending North Carolina A&T State University for undergraduate school and North Carolina Central University School of Law, she came back home to begin a career as a lawyer.

As for her father, Judge Lewis grew up in New York City, but had family ties to the Roanoke-Chowan area.

He earned a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Science. degree from the State University of New York at Brockport and his Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati Law School. He also received his Master of Theology from the Roanoke Theological Seminary.

“This has never been about me, but I do realize the importance of this day. This is a special moment, one that God has made,” said Judge Lewis at the outset of his remarks.

He made reference to other life-changing moments, all which led to Wednesday’s special occasion. He recalled the first time he met Judge Grant in 1980 while he was a second year law student at the University of Cincinnati. They met at a job fair and made plans to perhaps build their own law firm. They did exactly that…..Grant, Lewis, and Grant, the first Black law firm in eastern North Carolina (in Ahoskie) in 1985.

“That was a God plan,” Lewis stressed. “He first put his hand on me in the sixth grade when I wrote a report about becoming a lawyer. God was preparing me for what He wanted me to do.”

As fate – or in this case, faith – would have it, later in life, Lewis, while in his home, stumbled across a drawing Takiya (then a child) had crafted. It was a business sign: Lewis and Lewis, Attorneys at Law.

“Nobody but God,” Lewis exclaimed. “To have the privilege to serve with my daughter, it may be history making, but it is special. As a parent, Faye and I are so proud of our children, but as a father, to pass the mantle on is special. This is a testament of what God can do.”

Judge Grant shared his thoughts on this history-making father-daughter duo.

“Rob epitomizes the term servant leader,” Judge Grant noted. “Over these past 40-plus years, I have witnessed Rob represent the poor and the downtrodden. I’ve seen him boldly speak truth to power on issues affecting the less fortunate among us. He led local civil rights and human rights causes as president of the local NAACP. He championed education as the chair of the Roanoke-Chowan Community College Board of Trustees. He led as Moderator of the West Roanoke Missionary Baptist Association and among all of that he still found time to coach youth basketball.

“Most importantly, he spread the gospel of Jesus Christ as an ordained minister and pastor of Conocanary Missionary Baptist Church,” Judge Grant added. “As the father of daughters myself, with all of his accomplishments, accolades and awards, he has never been more proud than he is today in seeing his oldest daughter joining him in becoming a District Court Judge.”

As for Judge Blalock, Grant said, “I’ve known her all her life; I first met her when she was less than one week old. In the past 20 years I’ve witnessed her dedication and determination to strive for excellence. From the judge’s seat, I have witnessed, firsthand, her develop into an excellence attorney who is always well-prepared and passionately advocated for her clients. I welcome her as a colleague without any reservation. I am confident that she will have a long and successful judicial career.”

Following the ceremony, a reception was held in the lobby area of the courtroom.