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Letts' swearing in as new judge historic occasion for Cherokee

By Rose Hooper
Brad Letts of Sylva Herald photo by Rose Hooper

Brad Letts of Sylva was sworn in as the 30th Judicial District's fifth judge Aug. 7 at the Jackson County Justice Center. Administering the oath of office was Judge John Snow, while Lettsıs parents, Ray Don and Mary Jane Letts of Cherokee, stand with him.

Brad Letts of Sylva became the first member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee and the first from Jackson County to be sworn in as a District Court judge when he took the oath of office Monday, Aug. 7.

Cherokee tribal members packed the standing-room-only Jackson County courtroom to witness "one of their own " welcomed as the 30th District's fifth judge.

"It's a real honor for the Eastern Band, " said Principal Chief Leon Jones, who supported Letts' bid for the bench.

Another of his ardent supporters, former chief Joyce Dugan, was also on hand for the ceremony to offer her congratulations. Letts served as the Eastern Band's attorney general under her administration.

"This is a great day for Brad, his family and the Cherokee people, " said District Court Judge Danny Davis, who presented Letts to the crowd of 200 well-wishers. Two of Letts' greatest strengths, Davis said, "are his sense of humor and his sense of humility. "

Before he administered the oath of office, Chief District Court Judge John Snow Jr. thanked Rep. Phil Haire of Sylva and Sen. Dan Robinson of Cullowhee for "working to get us a fifth judge in the 30th Judicial District. "

A fifth judge was greatly needed in the district, Snow said. "In fact, " he told those in the courtroom, "Brad will be going to work tomorrow... he won't have a robe yet, but we're putting him to work right away. "

Letts' appointment fills the new 30th Judicial District position created by the General Assembly. The district covers Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Macon, Swain and Jackson counties. Letts' appointment came directly from Gov. Jim Hunt, who called the 33-year-old "an excellent new addition to the bench. "

Before his oath was administered, Letts thanked his parents, Ray Don and Mary Jane Letts, for their support and encouragement and asked them to stand with him during the ceremony.

Letts quoted a passage from the late Barbara Jordan, congressman from Texas: "You owe the people your total ethical commitment to excellence in public service, " adding, "I will always give the citizens of North Carolina my total commitment. "

Since he is from Jackson County, Letts said he is "excited about serving the folks from Jackson County. " The new judge has most recently been working throughout the 30th Judicial District in his role as an assistant district attorney.

Letts, who lives on Savannah Drive in Sylva, is a graduate of Sylva-Webster High School. He received his law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1994 after receiving a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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