Turik appointed to bench
By Steve Herring
Published in News on November 27, 2015 1:46 PM
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Annette Turik
Annette Turik of Kinston has been appointed by Gov. Pat McCrory to fill the unexpired term of the late District Court Judge Timothy Finan.
Finan, 62, died June 30.
Under state law, it is the responsibility of the judicial district bar to nominate five candidates who are residents of the district, and authorized to practice law in the district, for consideration by the governor.
Mrs. Turik came in second among the voting for the five candidates nominated by 8th Judicial District Bar members for consideration for the seat.
The bar members' top five nominees, listed in order of most votes, were William Curtis Stackhouse of Goldsboro, Mrs. Turik, William W. Bland of Goldsboro, Christopher Rogerson of Kinston and James W. "Will" Spicer III of Goldsboro.
The actual vote totals were not released.
Mrs. Turik said she was contacted by the governor's office Wednesday afternoon about her appointment.
"It is truly an honor," she said. "I was very surprised. There had been some talk that we didn't know when it would be. The filing season for the seat starts Dec. 1. So there was a whole lot of uncertainty as to whether it was going to be done before the filing period.
"I am very excited about being given this opportunity. I look forward to bringing my many years of district court experience as a trial attorney to the bench to be able to serve the people of the Eighth District."
The district includes Wayne, Lenoir and Greene counties, and Mrs. Turik said she practices law in all three.
The term ends in 2016, and Mrs. Turik said she plans to file for election to the office. The candidate filing period for the 2016 primary and general election begins at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 1, and ends at noon on Monday, Dec. 21.
Mrs. Turik is married to Dr. Scott Turik, who has a dental practice in Johnston County. They have two sons, Caleb, 15, and Kyle, 13.
Mrs. Turik said she is uncertain as to when she will take the oath of office.
"Logistically, I have a law practice that I have to do some work on before I can leave, and with the holidays coming up court is closed like the last two weeks in December. So it is probably going to be the first of the year.
"I don't know that yet, but as of today just thinking I am going to a new judges school the second week in December. So factoring that in with the rest of the holidays and court being closed it is probably going to be the first of the year."
Mrs. Turik has been an attorney and partner at Wooten and Turik, PLLC in Kinston since 2003. Prior to that, she was an associate attorney at Wallace, Morris and Barwick in Kinston from 1997-2003.
Mrs. Turik started working for Wallace, Morris and Barwick as a courier when she was a junior in high school. After graduating from Kinston High School, she earned her associate of applied science degree in paralegal technology from Pitt Community College.
Mrs. Turik worked at Wallace, Morris and Barwick, and Cranfill, Sumner and Hartzog in Raleigh as a paralegal.
She earned a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from North Carolina Wesleyan College and her juris doctor degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law.
Mrs. Turik has handled a wide variety of legal issues both in and out of the courtroom. She has trial experience in virtually every area of District Court including criminal, civil, juvenile delinquency, abuse and neglect court, domestic court and child support court.
She served as an attorney for the Lenoir County Department of Social Services and has experience with foreclosures, real estate, wills, collections, small claims, incompetency and guardianship issues.