Tonza D. Ruffin will be sworn in Monday at 11 a.m. as the first District 7 chief public defender.
The ceremony will take place at the Northampton County Courthouse in Jackson.
Judicial District 7 includes Bertie, Hertford, Northampton, and Halifax counties.
“This historic appointment marks a significant milestone in the district’s commitment to providing exceptional legal representation to those in need,” she said in a statement.
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To the role of chief public defender, Ruffin said she will bring a wealth of experience and dedication, “having demonstrated an unwavering commitment to justice” throughout her career.
A graduate of Georgia State University College of Law, she commenced her legal practice in North Carolina in 2000.
Over the past 23 years, she has advocated for the underserved, handling a diverse array of cases, ranging from capital murder and major felonies to misdemeanor offenses, minor traffic violations, and domestic matters.
Beyond her legal practice, Ruffin has contributed to legal education, serving as a faculty member of the Felony Defender Trial School at the UNC Chapel Hill Institute of Government. Additionally, she has been a part of the board of directors for the Center for Death Penalty Litigation in Durham.
Her contributions have earned her recognition in the field.
The North Carolina Indigent Defense Services Commission honored her with the Professor John Rubin Award for Extraordinary Contributions to Indigent Defense Services training programs.
In addition, the Windsor/Bertie County Chamber of Commerce presented her with the 2016 Black History Celebration Excellence from the Bar Award and the Ahoskie Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority bestowed upon her the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Service Award.
She said these accolades underscore her commitment and excellence in her legal endeavors.
As chief public defender, Ruffin said she will lead the charge in ensuring that every individual, regardless of background or circumstance, receives fair and competent legal representation.
In this role, she will oversee the establishment and operation of the Public Defender's Office, “working tirelessly to advocate for the rights of individuals in our community.”
Her leadership, she said, “will be instrumental in shaping the future of public defense in District 7.”
