Mecklenburg County District Court
I am committed to administering justice impartially, thoughtfully, and knowledgeably with fairness, integrity, and respect.
- Judge Aretha Blake -
It is an honor to serve the children, families, and residents of Mecklenburg County. As a Judge, I remain committed to administering the law with fairness, integrity and respect for all. As a fellow member of this community, I am dedicated to leveraging all available resources to improve the outcomes for our youth. I humbly ask for your support and your vote in 2024 as I seek to continue to serve Mecklenburg County as a District Court Judge.
~ Judge Aretha Blake
ABOUT
JUDGE
ARETHA V. BLAKE
JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE
Judge Blake is a current Mecklenburg County District Court Judge. She was elected in November 2016 in a highly visible, countywide judicial campaign. Judge Blake has served the citizens of Mecklenburg County in Family and Juvenile Court. She has presided over matters related to the following areas:
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
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INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT HEARINGS
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JUVENILE ABUSE, DEPENDENCY, AND NEGLECT
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ALIMONY AND EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION
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CHILD CUSTODY AND CHILD SUPPORT
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CRIMINAL AND CIVIL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
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LEGAL EXPERIENCE
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ABOUT
JUDGE
ARETHA BLAKE
A JUDGE WORKING FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Judge Aretha V. Blake serves as a District Court Judge in North Carolina’s 26th Judicial District (Mecklenburg County). A Certified Juvenile Court Judge currently seeking advanced certification, Judge Blake is the Lead Juvenile Court Judge, presiding over cases involving youth who have been abused, neglected, or are without caregivers and youth who are involved in the criminal legal system. Prior to Juvenile Court, Judge Blake presided in Family Court, addressing issues impacting families and children throughout the community.
Judge Blake believes in the thoughtful and knowledgeable administration of justice with fairness, integrity and respect. She has worked with and for children and families for over twenty years - as a volunteer, servant-leader, fundraiser, grantor, connector, and pro bono attorney. Judge Blake’s passion and commitment to the welfare of children and families is evident in her work in the Juvenile Court where she demands accountability of those responsible for the care of children, creatively develops solutions to issues impacting individual children and families, and leverages her personal and professional relationships to provide opportunities for court-involved children to gain exposure to career and prosocial activities. Judge Blake also volunteered to preside over the Family Treatment Court, which provides targeted services to parents with substance use disorders whose children are in foster care. She served in this role from January 2020 through October 2023.
As the Lead Juvenile Court Judge throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Judge Blake led collaborative stakeholder teams in the development and implementation of innovative processes to ensure that Juvenile Court operated with minimal disruption. Judge Blake has also taught courses for judges statewide in the areas of child welfare and trauma-responsive court processes through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Government Judicial College and the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts.
Since joining the bench in January of 2017, Judge Blake has primarily presided over matters related to the following areas:
Juvenile Delinquency
Juvenile Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency
Child Custody and Child Support
Judicial Hospitalization (Mental Health Court)
Alimony and Equitable Distribution
Civil and Criminal Domestic Violence
Judge Blake remains committed to serving the community and the Bar. During her second term in office, while leading and presiding in Juvenile Court and presiding in Family Treatment Court, Judge Blake has served in various judicial leadership and volunteer roles, including:
Judicial Lead of the 26th Judicial District's Child Welfare Model Court Committee and of the Child Welfare Permanency Collaborative
Judicial Representative on the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Court's Interdisciplinary Representation Program Advisory Committee.
Judicial Representative on the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Court's Safe Babies Court Advisory Committee.
Judicial Liaison to the Juvenile Law Section of the Mecklenburg County Bar
Olympic High School Advisory Board
DIVERSE LEGAL EXPERIENCE
Prior to her election to the District Court Bench, Judge Blake represented individuals and organizations in state and federal courts in North and South Carolina. She also provided professional development support to law students.
PARKER POE ADAMS & BERNSTEIN LLP, Associate and Special Counsel
Antitrust, Business Tort, and Intellectual Property Litigation
BAKER & BLAKE LLP, Partner
Family Law, Civil Litigation, Estate Planning and Administration, Business and Non-profit Formation and Governance, and Education Law
STELLAR ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS AND LEGAL TRAINING
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Science, Psychology, cum laude, 1999, Phi Beta Kappa Society; Full Tuition National Merit Scholarship
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA SCHOOL OF LAW
Juris Doctorate, cum laude, 2002, Georgia Law Review; Full Tuition Woodruff Law Scholarship
HONORS AND RECOGNITION
The Mecklenburg Times 50 Most Influential Women
“Emerging Legal Leader,” North Carolina Lawyers Weekly
“Rising Star,” North Carolina Super Lawyers Magazine
YMCA of Greater Charlotte George Williams Award
“Legal Elite,” Business North Carolina Magazine
North Carolina Bar Association Citizen Lawyer Award
Spirit of Charlotte Award, awarded by the Johnston YMCA for community service
Mecklenburg County Bar Association Small Firm Pro Bono Award (Baker & Blake LLP)
Council for Children’s Rights Small Law Firm of the Year (Baker & Blake LLP)
"Leader in the Law,” North Carolina Lawyers Weekly
SERVICE
BEYOND THE COURTROOM
As a lifelong community and family advocate, Judge Blake is dedicated to engaging with residents of Mecklenburg County beyond the boundaries of the courtroom. Service and civic responsibility is simply a way of living. Judge Blake actively builds community collaborations to support court-involved children and is a frequent speaker for community organizations in the areas of child welfare, access to justice, domestic violence, and juvenile delinquency. For more than 20 years, Judge Blake has served families, youth, and community organizations, including:
Mecklenburg Bar Foundation, Past President and 11-year volunteer leader
Mecklenburg County Bar and Foundation Executive Director Search Committee
Mecklenburg County Bar, Past Member of the Board of Directors and 20-year volunteer
H.L. McCrorey YMCA, Past Chair Board of Managers and 20-year volunteer
Charlotte Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Past Chair of the Legislative and Community Service Committees
Deltas of Charlotte Foundation, Past Co-Chair of the Legal Advisory Committee
Council for Children’s Rights, Past Board Member
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated
