Caleb Newman

The Election Hub Questionnaire

Please provide demographic information about yourself to help voters (age, education, current occupation, where you live).

I am 39 years old and live in Huntersville with my fiancée, Amanda. After graduating from UNC Charlotte in 2007, I worked as a Deputy Clerk of Superior Court for four years and made the decision to go to law school right here in Charlotte. I am currently a senior Assistant District Attorney, prosecuting homicides and other high-level felonies.

Why are you running for this role and why should voters pick you? Please share your previous experience in elected office that would be relevant to voters.

I have a deep commitment to justice for every person--without regard to the color of their skin, the size of their bank account, who they love, or where they're from. My life experiences have shaped me into the man I am today: empathetic yet strong, humble yet confident in my convictions. I believe judges should have the perspectives of the people they serve--and I do. As a former federal public defender, I have stood in courtrooms next to clients who couldn't afford an attorney but yet were facing years of imprisonment. That advocacy taught me that courts don't operate in a vacuum, and they're certainly not academic exercises. They have real-world implications and affect people's lives in a way a lot of folks don't understand. As a senior ADA, I practice in Superior Court every single day. That fact alone sets me apart from my opponent. I routinely try serious felony cases in front of juries and argue motions of law in front of judges. My career is built on public service and giving back to the same community that helped me succeed, and I'm excited to bring my proud record of public service to the Superior Court bench.

Tell us 1-2 professional accomplishments you have achieved in your work experience (not limited to public service) that give voters a sense of your leadership style or skills.

I was the first prosecutor in the State of North Carolina who tried a defendant for Death by Distribution. That crime occurs when a drug dealer sells drugs to a user who then dies from an overdose on those drugs. As a result of successfully prosecuting that case, I have been fortunate to travel all across the state training other homicide prosecutors and investigators on how to handle these particularly difficult cases. It's also something I'm passionate about because addiction affects nearly every family in one way or another. I firmly believe in holding people accountable for their actions, especially when they make a buck off the backs of addicts.

Another professional accomplishment that I've achieved in my career for which I am extremely proud is my work as a federal public defender. Initially, my role was working to reduce sentences of defendants who were given unreasonably long prison sentences due to the sentencing disparity between powder cocaine and crack cocaine. Defendants sentenced for crack cocaine were sentenced at a ratio of 100:1 as compared to those sentenced for powder cocaine. It's not surprising that this sentencing disparity fell most heavily on Black and low-income communities and eroded public confidence in the fairness of our justice system. My role then transitioned to representing indigent defendants at trial. By the time I left the Federal Public Defender's Office, I had more trial experience than my supervisor--developing skills I carried with me to the District Attorney's Office.

What endorsements from any notable North Carolina organizations or people have you received?

I am proud to say that I have been endorsed by every Democratic member of the Huntersville Town Commission (Scott Coronet, Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Hunt, Latoya Rivers, Edwin Quarles, and Nick Walsh). Additionally, I've been endorsed by CMS School Board Member for District 1 Charlitta Hatch, and Umbrella, Inc., co-founder Frances Dawson. As of this date, I anticipate other endorsements are forthcoming, particularly from organizations as we get closer to the primary election day.

How long have you lived in the region/district where you are running for office?

I have lived in the Charlotte area since 2004, but have lived in the district where I am running for almost 15 years.

Tell us something unexpected about yourself that voters may be interested to know.

I am an only child raised by a single mother. I put myself through college and then law school. I decided very early on to dedicate my career to public service. When I worked as a federal public defender, I taught Criminal Justice classes at Central Piedmont Community College to night students. I have earned pro bono awards for my volunteer work with Safe Alliance in Charlotte, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence navigate the complex and oftentimes confusing legal system. As a hobby, I enjoy singing with the Charlotte Symphony and traveling with my fiancée, Amanda.