Wendy S. Hazelton Judge is a ‘beacon of light’

from Eastern Living - May 2023

PARTING SHOTS T

Election night 2016, Wendy S. Hazelton received confirmation of a calling she felt two years prior when she first submitted her name to run for Pitt County District Court Judge. It was a night she remembers vividly and with warm emotions. It was also the night Pitt County received its first elected African American female judge.

A native of Windsor, Hazelton was the 13th of 15 children born to her parents. From a young age, she always knew she wanted to be a lawyer. Her path had been set in motion before she was even born.

“I had a brother that was killed about two months before I was born. My family never knew what happened to him. Once I found out about his life story, it became my mission as a young person to figure out what happened to him and bring that person to justice,” Hazelton said.

“There was a lot of speculation about whether or not he was killed or if it was suicide,” she continued. “Unfortunately, the library did not have a lot of information about his death or what took place, so I wasn’t able to dig into it the way I wanted to. That was my main reason for going to law school and when I got on that path, it stuck.”

Hazelton attended N.C. Central University in Durham where she received her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice.

Seven years later, and still determined to reach her dream of being a lawyer, Hazelton earned her law degree from N.C. Central.

Her career then took her to Pitt County in 2007 where she began working as a public defender in both district and superior court.

“I really enjoyed that work. It takes a special person to do that work. It’s a position that I really enjoyed because people that come into the public defender’s office, they need someone to guide them through that process. They don’t know what their voice is. I was able to be that voice for them,” Hazelton said.

During her ten years with the public defender’s office, Hazelton rose in rank, becoming an assistant public defender. Her career was spent advocating for her client’s needs.

“When I was an assistant public defender, you had a lot of people coming into your office. They may have an idea about the criminal justice system because many of them have been involved before,” she recalled. “But, they don’t know how to proceed or process the legalities of the system. That is where I came in. I have always been someone who likes for people to be treated fairly… It was important for me to make sure that my clients knew I was acting on their behalf,” Hazelton said.

“Being an assistant public defender is tough. I did a lot of begging for people and pleading for their cases,” she continued. “You have to have a heart for people and to do that for people all day. I think people need to be treated fairly. They need to be treated the same.”

Feeling like her hands were tied, Hazzelton desired to do more - not just for her clients, but for all. She set her sights on running for judge and began campaigning two years prior to the election.

“I know (as a judge) you have the authority to help people a lot more in the respect that I wanted to do so. I decided to jump on the ballot and figure out if this was the way for me to be able to help people more. It has definitely been that avenue I was looking for,” Hazelton said.

Election night 2016 will be a night Hazelton always remembers and validates her desire to become a judge.

“It had been a long process. I campaigned for two years. I was tired. It was a close race. When those numbers came in and I was victorious, that spoke to me,” she said.

“Being the first African American woman, being kind of new to Pitt County and not having the kind of footing that other candidates had, it said a lot,” Hazelton said. “I was able to bridge the gap between African American people and caucasian people, democrats and republicans.”

Hazelton knew her role as a Pitt County judge set an example for those that would follow in her footsteps. She understood the significance and holds it in high regard.

“Everyone is looking at you and they want to see how you are going to do and what you are going to do and how are you going to set the tone. It was pretty heavy in the beginning because I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. I wanted to make sure I crossed all the t’s and dotted all the I’s. It was a very proud moment as well that people thought enough of me - someone from Bertie County growing up the way I grew up… They put their faith in me. That always gets me,” Hazelton said. “These are shoes I wouldn’t trade for anything. I am able to be a beacon for ladies of all nationalities. They can say if she can do it, I can do it. I truly am grateful.”

As a judge, Hazelton prides herself on fairness, objectivity and puts her heart into her work and the people she meets everyday. Her efforts earned her a reelection in 2020.

“When I’m on the bench, I am not there as a democratic African American woman.

I am there as a judge… Everyone gets the same treatment… I am a neutral party. I’m sitting here listening to both sides. It’s weighing evidence and I have to apply the law and I have to make a decision,” Hazelton said.

“I took an oath to uphold my integrity, to uphold the laws of North Carolina and do what’s best in the position I’m in,” she said. “I believe as an assistant public defender I did that. I believe I am doing that now to the best of my ability. When I come in here everyday, I am proud to put those robes on. I’m proud to stand in front of the community that I have been a part of since 2007.”

Hazelton knows her decisions have significant impacts on the lives of those in her courtroom.

“I believe this is what I am supposed to be doing. I have the opportunity to meet so many people in different walks in their lives. It has allowed me to be able to assist people as they go through their journeys whether it be child custody cases or in juvenile court. I’m also able to pour into people and allow people to be a little more accountable,” Hazelton said.

“Sometimes it’s hard for people when they involve family or friends, but when you have someone who is a neutral third party looking in and saying you are wrong, you shouldn’t do that - I think it covers much more clout than someone in the family that will always agree with the other person,” she continued. “It allows me to help other people hold themselves accountable, it also helps me to be able to assist them as they are moving through some difficult times. Child custody cases can be difficult, they are very emotional. I understand that people think with their hearts and not with their heads and sometimes they think they are doing the right thing but it is not the right thing.”

Dealing with the cases she does can be difficult, Hazelton said, but she is reminded of the good she does and has been thanked by multiple people in the community for her efforts.

“I want people to know that this is a position where someone has to have a heart for people. Many people think it’s an easy job to do and it’s really not. On any given day, any decision I make, someone is going to be upset with me because I did not agree with them,” Hazelton said.

“People in this position always try to do the best they can with the information they have. Most importantly it is a position for someone that has a heart for people. I have that heart for people. I love helping people. I think that’s what drives me the most,” she said. “I want to help people.”

During the difficult times in her career, Hazelton remembers how she felt election night and remembers she is serving with a purpose.

“When those numbers came in and I was victorious I said ‘okay there is no way I’m not supposed to be here.’ Things just happened in a way during that whole process that made me know and feel more comfortable about this being my niche. That was nothing but the grace of God for me,” Hazelton closed.