Bladen Community College will present a program celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King on Tuesday, January 20, at 11 a.m. in the auditorium. The keynote speaker for the program is newly elected District Court Judge Fred Gore, who serves Judicial District 13 which includes Bladen, Columbus and Brunswick counties.
A native of Brunswick County, Judge Gore graduated from West Brunswick High School. After graduation, he enlisted in the North Carolina Army National Guard and completed basic and advanced training before returning to North Carolina to attend college. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing from University of North Carolina – Charlotte in 1998.
He worked in the business world for several years before applying for law school in 2002. While a student at Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia, he completed over 300 hours of community service and was selected to Who’s Who of the American Law Students in 2003-2004.
Shortly after he earned his Juris Doctorate in Law in 2005, Judge’s Gore’s National Guard unit was mobilized to Iraq from 2006 until 2007. During the tour he served as a non-commissioned officer and was awarded the Army Commendation and Army Achievement medals for his service.
After returning to the United States, he joined the Durham District Attorney’s office in 2008, where he served for three years. While in Durham, he was commissioned as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer in the North Carolina National Guard.
He returned to his home area in October 2011 working in the District Attorney’s Office serving Bladen, Columbus and Brunswick counties. Shortly after moving back to his home area, Judge Gore was again mobilized with his National Guard unit, this time to Kuwait. During this tour of duty, he served as the Chief Prosecutor and Officer in Charge for the Brigade’s legal team. For his service he was awarded the Army’s Meritorious Service Medal and Commander’s Coin for Performance.
He rejoined the local District Attorney’s office after returning from Kuwait in November 2012 and decided in February 2014 to seek an elected office to serve the district in a higher capacity. He ran for the office of District Court Judge and was elected on November 4, 2014.
He is active in his church and community; where he is a member of Big Macedonia Baptist Church, a member of Prince Hall Masonic Lodge #786, and a member of the Executive Board of the Cape Fear Council of Boy Scouts of America. He has served in the North Carolina National Guard for 22 years.
Judge Gore has twin sons and presently resides with his family in Columbus County.
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