Biography of Judge Cheri Beasley

Judge Cheri Beasley was raised in Nashville, Tennessee. She earned her B.A. in Political Science and Economics from Rutgers University/Douglass College. In 1991, Judge Beasley received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, spending one semester of study at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England.

After working in legal departments in companies in Research Triangle Park, Judge Beasley served a brief stint in the Wake County District Attorney’s Office. In 1994, her family relocated to Fayetteville, where she joined the Public Defender’s Office. After five years as a Public Defender, Gov. Jim Hunt appointed Judge Beasley to the District Court in Fayetteville. Her appointment would go on to be confirmed by her constituents. In her first highly contested election, Judge Beasley defeated her well established opponent with a 66% landslide victory. Her reputation as a judge and her success as a candidate would lead to her uncontested re-election to the court in 2006.

Mentor

Judge Beasley’s commitment to serving North Carolina has never been limited to her courtroom. She is active in a host of community and professional organizations to include N.C. Association of District Court Judges, Fayetteville Minority Lawyers Association and The Women’s Forum of North Carolina. Her greatest pride is in her work as a mentor to students, new attorneys and judges. Judge Beasley often invites students to her courtroom to observe the court system and discuss their observations. She also lectures at the New District Court Judges’ School at the UNC-CH School of Government.

Meet Judge Beasley’s Family!

Judge Beasley is married to Curtis Owens. They are the proud parents of seven year old twin sons, Thomas and Matthew. Judge Beasley and her family are members of First Baptist Church, Moore Street, in Fayetteville where Rev. Dr. Cureton Johnson serves as their Senior Pastor. Judge Beasley enjoys a close relationship with her mother, Dr. Lou Beasley.