Pender County, North Carolina

North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 3

2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 3 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Melinda H. Crouch and Janelle L. Cline. Candidate information follows official Pender County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Melinda H. Crouch (Democratic) and Janelle L. Cline (Republican) meet on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 3. Voters across New Hanover and Pender counties vote on this seat, per North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 7A. North Carolina judicial races have been partisan since the 2018 court reorganization. The field is the State Board of Elections' certified general-election candidate list (read September 7, 2026).

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. The sitting officeholder, Melinda H. Crouch, is on the ballot.

North Carolina › Pender County › North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 3

Melinda H. Crouch

Democratic Incumbent

Top priorities

Apply the law equally and treat every individual with dignity and respect
Keep the courtroom a place where everyone can be heard, respected and treated fairly

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Melinda H. Crouch has served as a District Court Judge for New Hanover and Pender counties since 2007, presiding primarily over Family Court, per her campaign site. Licensed since 1984, she practiced law in Wilmington for more than two decades before joining the bench.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Janelle L. Cline

Republican

Biography

Janelle Cline has worked as a prosecutor for the New Hanover and Pender County District Attorney's Office and later for the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys, per her campaign site. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, holds a master's degree from the University of Maryland College Park and a juris doctor from the University of Arkansas Little Rock Bowen School of Law, per the same source. She lives in Wilmington.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotNorth Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 4

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 3 in 2026?

When is the North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 3 election in North Carolina?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for North Carolina are on the North Carolina election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Pender County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Pender County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official North Carolina election office, or see the full Pender County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Pender County ballot

6 tracked races in Pender County, North Carolina. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

North Carolina Senate District 9 North Carolina House District 16 North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 1 See all 6 Pender County races

Candidate profiles

Melinda H. Crouch, full profile Janelle L. Cline, full profile Official North Carolina election office