THE COMMUNITIES THAT RAISED ME.
THE PEOPLE I SERVE.
I grew up in Creswell in Washington County and was the first person in my family to graduate from college. Everything I have accomplished traces back to people who invested in me long before I had accomplished anything. Their investment changed my life. I have spent my life trying to pay that investment forward by serving the communities that helped shape me.
GROWING UP IN CRESWELL
I grew up in Creswell in Washington County, a small town that taught me lessons no classroom ever could. In a place where everybody knows everybody, you learn early that people look out for one another, celebrate each other’s successes, and show up when times get hard.
I was fortunate to have teachers who encouraged me, mentors who believed in me, and community members who opened doors for me long before I had accomplished anything. They taught me that one person taking an interest in your future can change the course of a life.
Like many families, mine experienced challenges that tested us and changed us. Those experiences gave me a deeper understanding of the struggles families face and the importance of compassion, stability, and second chances.
Looking back, I realize that everything I have accomplished began with people who believed in a kid from Creswell. Their investment changed my life, and it inspired my commitment to serve others.
FIRST GENERATION DREAMS
I graduated from Creswell High School and became the first person in my family to graduate from college. Public education changed the trajectory of my life and opened doors I never imagined possible. I attended East Carolina University and later North Carolina Central University School of Law, graduating with honors. Along the way, I learned that where a person starts in life should not determine where they finish. Like many young people from Eastern North Carolina, I left home to pursue opportunities. But no matter where life took me, Eastern North Carolina always felt like home.
After graduating from law school, I had opportunities to build a career elsewhere. Instead, I came home. I returned to Eastern North Carolina because I believed the communities that invested in me deserved my investment in return.
GIVING BACK
After law school, I returned home because I wanted to build my life and career in the communities that helped shape me. I believed then, as I do now, that when we are blessed with opportunities, we have a responsibility to create opportunities for others.
Since returning home in 2013, I have opened my law practice in Plymouth, built a small business that employs local residents, and spent more than thirteen years representing individuals, families, businesses, and local governments throughout Eastern North Carolina.
I have also taught family law and public policy at East Carolina University, mentoring students as they pursued careers in law, government, education, and public service.
In 2014, I founded the D. Cole Phelps Scholarship Foundation because I believe no dream should be limited by a zip code. Since its founding, the Foundation has awarded more than $60,000 in scholarships to students across Beaufort, Hyde, Martin, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties.
"Whether through the courtroom, the classroom, public service, or my scholarship foundation, I have tried to give back to the people and communities that invested in me."
THIRTEEN YEARS IN DISTRICT COURT
I have stood beside parents fighting for their children, victims seeking protection, young people trying to find a better path, and families navigating some of life’s greatest challenges. I have also worked alongside law enforcement officers, correctional staff, social workers, teachers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and others who serve our communities every day.
Those experiences have taught me that court cases are never just about files, paperwork, or legal issues. They are about people. They are about families. They are about futures.
District Court is where real life happens. It is where decisions are made about children, families, freedom, and opportunity. What happens in that courtroom does not stay there. It follows people home.
In 2025, I became one of only fifteen attorneys in North Carolina certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a specialist in juvenile delinquency law. That distinction reflects years of work representing children and families and a commitment to serving some of our most vulnerable citizens.
Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of serving in leadership roles within the legal profession, including two terms as President of the Second Judicial District Bar. I have also been honored to serve organizations dedicated to education, access to justice, and strengthening communities across Eastern North Carolina.
Through it all, I have remained guided by a simple belief: when communities invest in people, those people have a responsibility to give back.
A Life Built on Giving Back
Teaching Family Law and Public Policy at East Carolina University allowed me to invest in the next generation. Many of my students reminded me of myself. Unsure. Trying to figure out their path. Working hard to build a different future.
Creating the D. Cole Phelps Scholarship Foundation, Inc. in 2014 allowed me to give back in another way. Since then, we have awarded more than sixty thousand dollars to young people across our five counties. Not just for grades, but for character, resilience, leadership, and heart.
My years in District Court strengthened my belief even more. The courtroom taught me patience and compassion. It taught me that justice is not just about laws, it is about people. District Court did not just shape my career. It shaped my heart for service.
13
Years in District Court
$60K+
Scholarships Awarded by D. Cole Phelps Scholarship Foundation, Inc.
1st
FIRST IN MY FAMILY TO GRADUATE COLLEGE
The Person Behind the Work
When I am not working, you will find me with family and friends, traveling when I can, staying active, playing tennis, or spending time with my golden doodle, Kobe, who is truly convinced he runs the house.
These moments matter to me. They keep me grounded and remind me of what I am working toward every day inside the courtroom. A community is made up of people with lives, families, and stories. I never lose sight of that.