By L.A. Williams, Correspondent
Christian Action League
RALEIGH — Why would a senior vice president at a bank want to become a Court of Appeals judge? For Chris Dillon, it would be one more way to serve the community and to put his broad and practical experience to work.
“What I would bring to the court is a little something different. We’ve all practiced law, but I work at a bank that I helped start four years ago. I interact with people from all walks of life, learning about every aspect of their business,” said the father of five and Tar Heel native. “I believe a judge can better understand different types of cases if he or she has a range of experience.”
In addition to banking, Dillon has operated a real estate business and worked in property management. Even during his 10 years in private law practice, which included work with a 30-person firm and as a solo practitioner, he didn’t tend to specialize.
“I represented clients in both civil and criminal court, from Small Claims Court all the way to the North Carolina Supreme Court,” Dillon said.
A Raleigh resident and 1990 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law, Dillon gives a two-pronged definition for his judicial philosophy: Judges should not make up or change to law to satisfy a bias or ideology, and judges must remember that they are servants of the people.
“Judges have got to remember that these cases involve real people who need to get on with their lives,” he said. “We need people who will get these cases right and get them done in a timely manner.”
A member of Edenton Street United Methodist Church, Dillon said one of his favorite Biblical principles is that “those in positions of authority should strive to serve rather than be served.”
He said, like most everyone, he’s had both types of bosses: “those who want the employees to make them look good and those who go out of their way to help the people around them succeed.” A 20-year volunteer with the church youth group and a member of the board of directors of The Vineyard Camp and Retreat Center, a Christian sports camp for kids, Dillon said the Court of Appeals spot would be another venue for him to give back to his community.
“I truly desire to serve the people in this capacity,” he said. “I would enjoy it.”
Dillon is one of 13 candidates running for the Wynn seat (Seat 5) on the N.C. Court of Appeals. Voters will be asked to choose three different candidates for their first, second and third choices in this instant runoff race.
For more information about Chris Dillon, see www.dillonforjudge.com.
