Lori Hamilton

Davidson County Superior Court Judge Lori Hamilton admitted to violating North Carolina's judicial code of conduct after ordering the mother of two sexual-abuse victims jailed during a November 2021 trial. Accusing the mother of bringing her daughters to court late and being uncooperative with prosecutors, Hamilton told her: "I'm going to take you into protective custody to ensure your appearance here at trial," and ordered her handcuffed, detained for the trial's duration, and denied an attorney — despite never charging her with any crime. The mother spent four days in custody, separated from her daughters during their own testimony in the case.

North Carolina's Judicial Standards Commission investigated and recommended the state Supreme Court publicly reprimand Hamilton. The Supreme Court declined to impose any discipline at all, with no public explanation — state law keeps that specific deliberation confidential.