Elizabeth City, N.C. — Somewhere between the shuffle of court papers and the knock of the gavel, Superior Court Judge Eula Reid remembers where it all began. Not in law school. Not at her swearing-in. But at a gas station in her hometown of Elizabeth City, wearing a uniform—not a robe.
After graduation, Judge Reid was working at a gas station when one of her professors, Attorney Harold Barnes, stopped by. Reid recalled, “He asked me why I was working there, and I told him it was a job. He gave me his business card for his law firm, Penny & Barnes, and told me to come by his office the following week, and they hired me as a secretary.”
Judge Reid worked her way up to office manager/paralegal before going to law school. That chance encounter with Attorney Barnes led Reid into a legal career that would eventually place her behind the bench—and into the history books. In May, Governor Josh Stein appointed her as Superior Court Judge for North Carolina’s First Judicial District. In this seven-county region, Reid is now the first woman ever to serve in the role.
But long before the historic appointment, she was a student searching for direction. After briefly leaving town for college, she found herself drawn back to her roots and Elizabeth City State University (ECSU).
“When I graduated from high school, I wanted to get away from Elizabeth City, so I went to UNC-Chapel Hill. Then, I realized I wanted to return home. ECSU is like home for me,” Reid said. “My sister and other relatives and friends talked with such Viking Pride; there was no other option for me.”
At ECSU, she earned a degree in political science with a minor in criminal justice and began building the foundation for a life of public service. The small class sizes, dedicated professors and community spirit offered more than academics—they provided affirmation.
“The professors showed they cared about my future and encouraged me to reach my goals,” she said. “That encouragement made a difference.”
From secretary to paralegal to lawyer and now judge, Reid’s rise wasn’t sudden. Instead, it was methodical, fueled with perseverance, humility and purpose. Her approach on the bench reflects those same values.
“I want to be remembered as a fair, knowledgeable, impartial and compassionate judge who listened to the facts and applied the law,” she said.
While she delivers justice in court, she also seeks to make an impact beyond it and opens her courtroom to student interns and future changemakers. “I hope this allows some insight and understanding of the judicial system,” she added.
For Judge Reid, the path to this moment wasn’t a straight line. There were curves, detours and doubt. But whether filling a gas tank or filing a motion, each step prepared her to serve with clarity and conviction.
“My motto from law school is, ‘Success needs no explanation, and failure has none,’” she said. “I want my life to be an example for anyone and everyone that you can do whatever you want if you just work hard.”
She may be the first woman to hold this seat, but for students walking ECSU’s campus today, she hopes she won’t be the last.