On the morning of March 1, 2024, Joshua W. “Josh” Willey, Jr. was sworn in by The Honorable Chief District Court Judge Walter Mills of the 4th Prosecutorial District.
Willey took the oath of office in the judge’s office in Craven County.
He succeeds former chief public defender Peter “Pete” Mack, who retired February 29; Mack had served as chief public defender there since 2021.
Willey is a North Carolina native, born and raised in Gates County. He attended Wake Forest University and earned his B.A. and J.D. degrees in 1974 and 1977, respectively. He spent several years in the Winston-Salem area before relocating to New Bern in 1977, where he currently resides.
Prior to his appointment as Chief Public Defender, Willey served just over seven years as Senior Resident Superior Court Judge for what was the 3B Judicial District—now the 4th district.
Willey was admitted to practice in North Carolina state courts in August 1977; the federal courts and Eastern District of North Carolina in November 1978. He was admitted in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in May 1982, and the United States Supreme Court in October 2001.
Willey said, “In 1977 most everyone was a general practitioner. I was no different. After some years, I phased out my office practice and just did trial work.”
Willey handled and tried a variety of cases—personal injury, medical malpractice, will caveats and land title cases. His criminal practice included almost everything—charges ranging from DWIs to capital murder.
He added, “By the time I left private practice for the bench my practice was primarily criminal.”
“I am looking forward to getting back to my criminal defense roots and rounding out the last chapter of my legal career as the Chief Public Defender for District 4.”
Willey lives in New Bern with his wife, Denise. He has one daughter. She and “the world’s coolest little boy” live in Nashville, Tennessee.