By Marcy Hege

Carl Fox

Carl Fox
Interviewing Carl Fox by telephone instead of trying to catch him in his Hillsborough office was a good decision. As a Superior Court Judge in Chatham and Orange counties, Judge Fox is constantly on the move. Although he often presides over court business either in Hillsborough or in Pittsboro, he spends most of his time holding court across the rest of North Carolina. Some days, he might even be found in his Hillsborough office, reviewing cases and dealing with paperwork.

As a native North Carolinian, he is a true “Carolina blue blood.” Born in Raleigh, he moved with his parents and siblings to Mount Olive when he was about five years old. It was there he learned the value of hard work while working in his family’s vegetable garden or on local farms.

He also learned about small towns and to appreciate real neighbors. Fox grew up when North Carolina’s school systems were undergoing major changes brought about through desegregation. Fox’s parents, both educators, decided he should attend a local “white” school where he was involved in athletics and hung out at the local Tastee-Freez , learning a lot about his high school buddies. For those of you not familiar with North Carolina in the 70s, hanging out was about the only thing to do in the eastern part of the state.

A high school ROTC trip to Morehead Planetarium set Fox’s sights on attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Nominated for the Morehead Scholarship, UNC was the only place he applied. Fox earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and then continued at UNC Law School, earning his Juris Doctorate in 1978. After law school, he worked for six years as an assistant district attorney in Chatham and Orange Counties’ 15B Prosecutorial District and was appointed district attorney in 1984. He won the district attorney race the next five elections. In early 2005, he was appointed a Resident Superior Court Judge, an office which he overwhelmingly won again in last November’s elections.

Friends congratulate Carl Fox after he was recently sworn in as Superior Court Judge.

So, what kind of person is this Senior Resident Superior Court Judge? He’s been working out to stay physically fit since 1988. Fox was a long-time bachelor but met his wife, Valerie Stafford-Fox, during one of his workout sessions. He was 39 when they married. He has been known to sneak away for a round of golf. Environmentally conscientious, he drives a Honda hybrid but also appreciates high performance vehicles. He loves all kinds of music and paid some of his school expenses selling stereo equipment and teaching mixology. A lover of courtroom drama, Fox met John Grisham at a fundraising event for the Chapel Hill Public Library. A photograph of that encounter hangs in Fox’s office. Michael Malone interviewed Fox several years ago while doing research for Time’s Witness and Fox’s contributions are acknowledged in the book.

Over the years, Judge Fox has volunteered in the local community. He was the co-chair of the Orange County United Way Campaign in 2000 and was an ex-officio board member of the Triangle United Way. Many of his volunteer efforts are aimed at activities involving youth and literacy such as The Augustine Project, The Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill and The Family House. He has been a high school Sunday school teacher at his church for over ten years.

While you may see his name mentioned occasionally in the press as the presiding judge for high profile cases in Orange and Chatham Counties, Fox has many television and radio credits. He was visible as a commentator during Court TV’s coverage of the Michael Peterson trial in Durham. He has given expert commentary on many locally produced television documentaries and radio interviews. His subjects have ranged from Ramses (UNC’s mascot) to O.J. Simpson to prisons.

So, in his earlier years, did Carl Fox ever see himself as a judge? Fox notes he had visions of grandeur as a child and saw himself as wealthy and driving a Lincoln Continental. In some respects, he feels he has done better than he thought he would do. He has had opportunities to meet more people and know those in positions of leadership such as senators, congressmen, governors, and legislators. He’s handled cases with lots of publicity, both good and bad. He might have dreamed of being Attorney General or North Carolina’s Governor but not now.

What trends does Fox see in the state and what concerns him? He sees urbanization taking away the small town charm of many areas of the state. Fox is concerned that too many children have “a lot of leash and a lack of supervision.” With gangs, drugs and alcohol abuse on the rise, he’s appalled at how many people under 25 years of age appear in his courtroom. Parents trying to be friends instead of being parents setting rules are a particular sore spot for the judge.

As a Baby Boomer, Fox is also concerned about the future of social security which may or may not be there when many Boomers reach retirement. Will Medicare and Medicaid still exist? How are Baby Boomers going to cover their living expenses since so many have not saved adequately for the retirement years? How will the war in Iraq affect America’s resources? The increasing national debt scares him. He’s also alarmed at the disparity between CEO salaries and the wages of workers.

When asked about whether or not he sees retirement as a part of his life in the near future, Fox noted that 2010 will probably be the first time he might think about it. He might practice law part-time. Fox envisions volunteering in the schools to promote literacy, staying in touch with a younger generation. Traveling will also be a part of his retirement scenario.