Representing Justice with Integrity and Professionalism
Welcome to the website of the District Attorney’s Office for Prosecutorial District 6, serving New Hanover and Pender County, North Carolina. We are committed to upholding the law, protecting the rights of victims, and ensuring that justice is served.
Our Mission: Making Information and Services Accessible
Our goal is to provide the public with easy access to information and services offered by the District Attorney’s Office and the criminal justice system. We invite you to explore our website and take advantage of the resources we have made available. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us using the details provided.
Who is the District Attorney?
A District Attorney is an attorney elected by the community to represent the public’s interest, including crime victims, in court proceedings. In our district, the District Attorney is Ben David. Elected every four years, District Attorneys are dedicated to their districts and are prohibited from engaging in private legal practice.
The District Attorney’s Duties
The primary responsibility of the District Attorney is to prosecute criminal cases within the district. This includes representing the state in criminal and juvenile matters, advising law enforcement officers, and preparing the criminal trial docket. District Attorney Ben David brings extensive experience to this role, having served in the Sixth District since 1999 and currently in his sixth term.
A Leader in the Community
In addition to his duties as District Attorney, Ben David is an active member of various organizations, including the Wilmington Downtown Rotary and the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Prevention of Youth Violence. He has also served on the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism and the Governor’s Gang Task Force, demonstrating his commitment to reducing crime and promoting safety. His dedication to public service is further reflected in his involvement as an adjunct professor, teaching courses on Crime and Community in the Cape Fear.
Our Dedicated Team
The District Attorney’s office is the largest law firm in the Sixth District, comprising 21 Assistant District Attorneys and 24 support staff, including victim witness assistants, investigators, and court liaisons. These 45 dedicated individuals represent the 280,000 residents of New Hanover and Pender Counties. With a combined experience of over 200 years in prosecuting crime, our team is well-equipped to handle the diverse challenges that come our way.
Fulfilling Our Sworn Duties
As an office, we have two primary responsibilities: advising local law enforcement and prosecuting criminal matters in both New Hanover and Pender Counties. Working closely with over 1,000 sworn law officers, we take a collaborative approach to cases, ensuring thorough investigations and strong prosecutions. With more than 50,000 traffic offenses, 20,000 misdemeanors, and 5,000 felonies handled each year, our office plays a vital role in keeping the courts running efficiently.
Setting Priorities and Setting the Tone
In the District Attorney’s Office, we understand the importance of setting priorities. Our focus is on prosecuting violent crimes and career criminals, as these cases have a significant impact on our community. By consistently achieving successful outcomes in high-profile cases, we send a clear message to offenders and encourage guilty pleas, saving valuable resources and court time. While the majority of cases in our district are resolved through plea agreements, our commitment to justice remains unwavering.
Garrity Traina is dedicated to serving the community and ensuring that justice is carried out. To learn more about our services, visit the Garrity Traina website.