Meet Steve

As a District Court and Superior Court Judge for nearly eleven years, I have been steadfast in my commitment to the public’s assurance of a kind of equality and justice that is not familiar to some and a stranger to others, but one which is common to all.

I am seeking to retain the opportunity to continue serving in my current judicial capacity because of my commitment to the fair administration of justice, and because my education, training and experience more than meet the requisite qualifications to effectively, efficiently and fairly serve as your Superior Court Judge. I took a dual master’s degree in public administration and management from Webster University, and I earned my law degree from The Florida State University College of Law, where I was a Virgil Hawkins Fellow. I am licensed to practice law in North Carolina and Florida and am admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, U.S. District for the Eastern District of North Carolina, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Moreover, I possess the kind of judicial temperament and sense of fairness that will continue positively to impact those who appear before me. No one will walk away feeling that the court I preside over demeans or disrespects them.

I have garnered a diverse background in law and in law enforcement for over twenty-five years. In addition to serving as a Superior Court Judge and District Court Judge, I worked as a lawyer in the private and public sectors, as a prosecutor and defense attorney, in criminal, civil, military and administrative law areas. As an Army Officer and Lawyer, I served honorably in the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps as a Trial Counsel, Special Assistant United States Attorney, Defense Attorney in the 82nd Airborne Division, and as an International Law Attorney for the U.S. Army Special Operations, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations Commands, respectively. I was Chief of the Army’s largest Legal Assistance Office (LAO), Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, XVIII Airborne Corps. I was an Assistant State’s Attorney in Tallahassee, FL. And prior to law school, I served in the Military Police (MP) Corps, serving as a Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, and Acting Commander with the 82nd MP Company, 82nd Airborne Division. Moreover, I worked as a deputy sheriff in the state of Florida.

I graduated from the very challenging U.S. Army Ranger and Advanced Airborne Schools, earning the coveted Ranger Tab and Senior Jump Wings, respectively. I also graduated from the Combined Arms and Services Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, KS; the National Security Law Summer Institute at the University of Virginia’s School of Law; the U.S. Army Civil Affairs Advanced Course, JFK Special Warfare Center and School, and the Judge Advocate General’s Basic Officer Course. I obtained the rank of Major before electing to leave the service to go into private law practice, when I founded the Stokes Law Firm.

I served on the Cumberland County Education Foundation’s Board of Directors, the Cumberland County Bar Association’s Board of Directors, and previously served as 2nd and 1st Vice-President, as well as President of the Cumberland County Bar Association and the 12th Judicial District Bar. I twice served on the Board of Directors for the Fayetteville Kiwanis Club and the Airborne and Special Operations Museum. I am a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, Sigma Pi Phi (Boule) Fraternity, and I am also a Master Mason.

I am married to Dr. Yvette Stokes, a highly respected dentist and owner of Highland Pediatric Dental. I have four college-educated children and two minor grandchildren. We are members of First Baptist Church on Moore Street, where I have had the rewarding responsibility and privilege of serving as a Stephen Minister and as a trusted member of the Pastor’s Search Committee. I am grateful for family, church, and community!

I enjoy uplifting music, playing chess, writing poetry, and the martial arts – I am master-level black belt in the Shinjumasu International Karate Association, and was previously ranked number one in the state of Florida, in the light-heavy weight black belt division, and was also ranked overall as one of the top-30 black belt fighters in all weight classes in the entire state of Florida.

As your Superior Court Judge, I encourage you to take the mantle of hope and courage and help me mold it into a solid gavel For Justice – For All!

Please VOTE for STOKES on March 3, 2026 (Primaries), and AGAIN on November 3, 2026 (General Election)!

Thank you, and God bless!!!