Pubdate: Mon, 18 Feb 2002
Source: Daily Herald (NC)
Copyright: 2002 Daily Herald
Contact:  http://news.mywebpal.com/index.cfm?pnpid=778
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1490
Author: Kathryn Bridges, Herald Senior Editor

CRANFORD TO FILE FOR HALIFAX SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE SEAT

HALIFAX - Resident Halifax Superior Court Judge Dwight L. Cranford Monday 
will file in Raleigh to seek election this November.

Cranford has served as a Halifax County Superior judge since he was 
appointed by Gov. Jim Hunt in October 2000 to fill the seat left vacant by 
the retiring Hon. Richard Allsbrook.

Cranford said his eight years of experience as a Halifax County District 
Court Judge in both civil and criminal matters will serve him well. He 
strongly supports local law enforcement, and believes in strong punishment 
for those who sell drugs as well as programs of rehabilitation for drug 
abusers. He believes justice should be tempered with mercy, though he will 
not tolerate arrogance, discourtesy or partiality in his courtroom.

Drug sales and abuse are the biggest criminal justice issues facing Halifax 
County today, Cranford said. "Upon arrest and conviction (of a drug abuser 
or salesman) you must maintain services and monitor them. We especially 
need follow-up of mental health, psychological and abuse treatment and 
monitoring of the offender's progress.

"I will endeavor to see that this county, my district, develops and 
maintains programs to attempt to deal with these offenders. Some need to be 
in jail, but others need help."

Cranford is a graduate of the National Judicial College in Reno, Nev., and 
earned his judicial doctorate from the UNC School of Law. He practiced law 
in Roanoke Rapids, where he resides, from 1960 to 1992. He served as a 
District Court Judge (District 6A) from 1992 until October of 2000, when he 
was appointed to Allsbrook's seat.

In addition, Cranford was a N.C. State Bar councilor from 1988 to 1992; a 
member of the Judicial Committee for Superior Court Judges in 1982 and 
chairman of the Halifax County Democratic Party in 1984.

In his community of Roanoke Rapids, he served as a past president of the 
Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Roanoke Rapids Kiwanis Club and the 
North Carolina Symphony Society. He is a member of the Roanoke Rapids 
Planning Board and serves as an elder at First Presbyterian Church, where 
he has been a member for 30 years.

He and his wife, Lee, reside in Roanoke Rapids, and have two children, 
Collins C. Roux and Scott M. Cranford.
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