Mecklenburg County District Court
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I am humbled and honored to continue to serve Mecklenburg County with fairness, integrity, and respect for all. Thank you for your votes and support!
~ Judge Aretha Blake
Administering justice
impartially, thoughtfully, and knowledgeably with fairness, integrity, and respect.
It is an honor to serve all of 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
CERTIFIED JUVENILE COURT JUDGE
Judge Blake is a Certified Mecklenburg County Juvenile Court Judge. To receive this distinction, Judge Blake completed 72.25 hours of specialized training in juvenile delinquency, abuse, neglect, and dependency, substance abuse, and child development in less than a year. She presided over hundreds of juvenile hearings and is committed to using her experience on the Juvenile Court bench to facilitate the efficient implementation of North Carolina’s new “Raise the Age” law.
Judge Blake was first elected in November 2016 in a highly visible, countywide judicial campaign. Judge Blake serves the citizens of Mecklenburg County in Family and Juvenile Court.
She presides over matters related to the following areas:
Juvenile Delinquency
Juvenile Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency
Child Custody and Child Support
Involuntary Commitment Hearings
Alimony and Equitable Distribution
Civil and Criminal Domestic Violence
Judge Blake remains committed to serving the community and the Bar. She also serves in various judicial leadership and volunteer roles, including:
Volunteer Truancy Court Judge at Whitewater Middle School
Judicial Liaison to the Mecklenburg County Youth Coalition
Led the effort to secure a $10,000 grant to help provide prosocial activities to youth in foster care.
Judicial Liaison to the Juvenile Law Section of the Mecklenburg County Bar
17 YEARS OF 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
BLAKE LAW PLLC, Owner
Family Law, Estate Planning and Administration, Business 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
“Leader in the Law,” North Carolina Lawyers Weekly
“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)
The Mecklenburg Times 50 Most Influential Women
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. For more than 20 years, Judge Blake has served families, youth, and community organizations.
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 15-year volunteer
H.L. McCrorey YMCA, Past Chair Board of Managers and 16-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
