Guilford County's legal community is mourning the loss of court judge Tom Jarrell, who has died at 56.
Jarrell had been a prosecutor in Guilford County's High Point courthouse when he was appointed as a district court judge 20 years ago.
He had deep ties to the local community — his mother was a longtime member of the state House, and Jarrell went to Guilford College, where he served as student body president.
Joe Craig is Guilford's Senior Resident Superior Court Judge. He described Jarrell as a giant of the local legal scene who was respected statewide.
“He thrived on politics and relationships,” Craig said. “He knew all of the legislators and was in Raleigh fighting for the judicial system just about every week when the General Assembly was in session.”
Jarrell was Guilford's chief district court judge, and Craig said he had hoped Jarrell would be his replacement on superior court when he retires.
“When you have someone in a position like his and he is so vibrant and so energetic and so capable, it's a tremendous shock to everyone,” he says. “You get to where you sort of take it for granted that he's going to be there to run the district court system in Guilford County, and now he's lost to us.”
Gov. Roy Cooper will appoint a replacement for Jarrell's unexpired term. Chief Justice Cheri Beasley will name a new chief district judge for Guilford County.