On December 23, 2024, the Honorable Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Stephan R. Futrell of Judicial District 21 (Anson, Richmond, and Scotland Counties) and the Honorable Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Michael A. Stone of Judicial District 29 (Moore and Hoke Counties), appointed Phillip A. Elkins as Public Defender for Defender District 21, (Hoke and Scotland Counties) for a term of four years, commencing January 2025, and expiring December 2028.
Chief Elkins took the Oath of Office on two occasions, once on January 3 in Moore County, and again on January 6 in Scotland County. His spouse and daughter stood with him for the swearing-in ceremonies.
Prior to his appointment, he served eight years as an assistant public defender under former Chief Jonathan McInnis, who retired at the end of December 2024.
Chief Elkins, a North Carolina native, holds a B.S. in Psychology from Appalachian State University and a J.D. from Charlotte School of Law.
Before attending law school, he served almost 10 years in the United States Army, exiting in 2005. Upon leaving the military, he worked as the program manager for Moore Buddies, an afterschool behavioral program for court-ordered delinquent juveniles. He later took a position with the Department of Juvenile Justice as a court counselor in Moore County. While there, he became more knowledgeable about the court system and in 2011, he decided to go to law school. He operated as a solo practitioner in Southern Pines before joining the (then) District 16A PD office in 2016.
Chief Elkins began his role as an assistant public defender in October 2016. At that time, he began managing the District Court caseload for the Scotland County office. In 2018, he took over one of the Superior Court APD positions. And notably, in 2020 he prevailed on a habeas corpus petition before the Honorable Judge Dawn Layton for the unlawful detention of a client, based upon an erroneous judgment revoking her probation.
He had this to say about his appointment as Chief Public Defender for Hoke and Scotland counties: “I am thrilled to begin this new chapter of my professional career as the Chief Public Defender of District 21, particularly given my passion to provide effective legal representation for those that need it most. I am eager to learn and collaborate with everyone to achieve great things for our indigent clients.”
Chief Elkins currently resides in Vass, NC, with his spouse of 21 years, Germaine and their daughter, Virginia. They love to travel and are avid fans of the theater.