The Shelby Star
After almost 14 years as a Cleveland and Lincoln County District Court Judge, Meredith Shuford will now be on the other side of the bench after a difficult election for her.
Losing in the 2020 election is a bittersweet moment for the Lincolnton resident. She said she will miss helping the children who came through her courtroom, but the political side of being a judge left a bitter taste in her mouth.
“It was heartbreaking to lose the position, but that is what happens when elections change from non-partisan to partisan,” she said.
As Shuford battled to keep her judge’s seat in 2020, she said she was met with threats of violence and intimidation via false Facebook accounts and anonymous emails. The Republican doesn’t believe that the messages came from anyone who had come before her in court but from people who may not have wanted to see a woman presiding over the courtroom.