Carl Fox

Carl Fox is a retired Superior Court Judge who dedicated 42 years to North Carolina’s judicial system. After earning a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1975, Carl became the first Black District Attorney in North Carolina. He later became the first Black judge in Judicial District 15B, which covers Chatham and Orange Counties, following an appointment by Governor Michael F. Easley in March 2005.

In 2015, Carl was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a blood cancer. He received treatment and a lifesaving bone marrow transplant at UNC Hospitals’ Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. He fully recovered and returned to the bench in July 2016. Before his transplant, Carl, his wife Julia, and several friends founded “Save the Fox,” a nonprofit organization focused on raising awareness about the need for bone marrow donors, especially among minorities, and registering new potential donors for patients with blood cancers.

Although he served as a judge across North Carolina, most of his career was devoted to serving the citizens of Chatham and Orange Counties. In addition to his judicial work and time as a prosecutor, Carl appeared as a television and radio commentator for networks such as Court TV, WRAL, ABC11, and WCHL.

Carl retired on October 1, 2020, after decades of service in North Carolina’s courts. In retirement, he enjoys traveling with his wife, walking, working with “Save the Fox” and various charities, cooking, playing golf, caring for Molly, and attending church. He began the next chapter of his life as a certified mediator in March 2021.