Warren County women are making history

Mar. 8—WARRENTON — "Bam!" goes the gavel as the magistrate, sitting behind the bench, brings it down on a sound block. The official quiets the room and begins to speak.

Now, who's that magistrate? In Warren County, it's going to be a woman, 100% of the time. When Magistrate Delphine Hawley was appointed on Feb. 1, she became the third woman in the lineup of three, and the first Black woman to serve the county as magistrate.

That was a historical event. Since its founding in 1779, the county's magistrates have been men.

"To have all three positions be held by women shows that we have come a long way," said Chief Magistrate Tracy Fuller. "This should inspire young women that anything is possible, even in a remote area such as Warren County. Warren County should be proud of this historical event."

There's a little more record-breaking going on.

Fuller is the county's first female chief. Bratanya Simmons became its youngest magistrate when she was appointed in January 2023; and Hawley became the county's first Black lady in that position when she picked up the gavel, so to speak.

None of them were the first female magistrate, as that title belongs to the late, great Susan Brown, appointed back in 2007.

"She was an inspiration to us all and she is sorely missed," Fuller said. "She was a tremendous leader in this community and loved Warren County."

Fuller hails from the Cokesbury area in Vance County. She was sworn in as a magistrate in that county in 2017.

Those seeking to become magistrates need some qualifications — they must live in the area they want to serve and have a four-year degree, eight years of experience as a clerk of superior court, or a two-year degree and four years of work experience in a field related to the court system. Fuller graduated from North Carolina State University.

For 10 years prior, Fuller served the county as a probation and parole officer.

"I felt like I could be a better servant to the community as a magistrate, the first person the general public comes in contact with in our judicial system," said Fuller. She also wanted to assist with civil and criminal cases and provide an "independent and impartial review of complaints."

Simmons, too, came from the legal system, serving the state for some 11 years as a domestic violence and sexual assault court advocate. In that time, she worked alongside former Warren County magistrates Al Kearey, Susan Brown and Tom Hardy on domestic violence protection orders.

"I learned so much from all three of these magistrates so when the position became available, I knew I wanted the position," said Simmons. She was sworn in when District 11 was still District 9.

The Boydton, Virginia native has lived in Vance County for 14 years. She graduated from Vance-Granville Community College with an associate's degree in paralegal studies and later earned a bachelor's in criminal justice with a minor in homeland security and juvenile justice.

She earned her master's in criminal law and a minor in forensic psychology from Southern New Hampshire University. She's currently working towards a doctorate in psychology.

Hawley shared similar sentiments.

"In all of my jobs, I've worked with the public in some form of being of assistance to those with a need," she said. "I feel that this position will serve the same as previous employments."

Born and raised in Ridgeway, Hawley later graduated from Norlina High School and Louisburg College. In 1987, she began work with at the Warren County Child Support Agency, moving to Granville's agency in 2003. She retired in 2015.

After a year off in 2017, she got back to helping people at the Warren County Clerk of Court's office before serving as a deputy clerk of court in Franklin County from 2022-23.

As mentioned, she's the newest member of the lineup.

"The job is fairly new to me," Hawley said, "but I am dedicated to learning all duties and performing them to the best of my ability."

What are those duties? They're not dissimilar to judges, but there are some key differences. Magistrates are appointed, not elected, and serve an initial term of two years and subsequent terms of four years.

The clerk of superior court nominates a worthy candidate, a senior resident superior court judge appoints them, and they work under the chief district court judge's supervision.

Magistrates are the only civil officers allowed to officiate marriages — a duty Fuller enjoys wholeheartedly.

"Everyone is happy," she said, "and it's a beginning of a new life together."

Magistrates preside over civil and criminal cases. Civil cases are generally lawsuits between two subjects, usually involving money — they end in some kind of remediation between the two. A magistrate might require a defendant to pay a fine, for example.

Criminal cases are those wherein someone has been charged with a crime. In those cases, magistrates handle initial appearances, set conditions of release and bonds and issue warrants.

On the other side, they hear small claims cases, issue eviction orders and determine the necessity of involuntary commitments.

The Warren County trio preside over 20-30 cases per day, on average. Fuller described the job as feast or famine — the courtroom is bustling one day and filled with crickets the next. Generally, though, they hear small claims cases on Mondays and Tuesdays and criminal cases 24/7. The office is open to the public from 9-5, Monday through Friday.

"The magistrate life is like a box of chocolates," Fuller said. "You never know what you're going to get. Our duties depends on human behavior, and we all know that is unpredictable."

It's worth nothing that March is Women's History Month and Friday was International Women's Day.

"I am proud to say I work with such strong women," said Simmons.

Hawley fondly remembered the late Elizabeth Harris, onetime child support supervisor for Warren County.

"She saw something in me that I never knew I had. She instilled strength, courage and determination in me to excel in whatever capacity I was in," said Hawley. "I'll never forget her encouraging me when I was very young on the work field. She pulled me out of many low emotional states during my career. I miss her but what she taught me remains still.

"I believe she would be very proud to know that I'm a magistrate."

Women have inspired Fuller for her entire life.

"My grandmother and mother were some of the strongest willed individuals that I knew," she said, "and they instilled the strength and ability to know that I could do most anything I set my mind to. They also taught me how to be a fantastic cook at a very early age.

"I was the first female grandchild to attend college, graduate and live out on my own prior to marriage," Fuller continued. "My mother raised me from my teenage years alone and I saw how she struggled, and that she did not want same for me."

Women throughout history have fought to allow women like Fuller to "sit here and answer questions about my life to a local newspaper," she said.

"The fact that all women have a voice is an accomplishment — and in this country, all citizens have a voice and a choice," said the chief.

During a recent Sunday school class, Fuller's pastor passed a basket around and asked the crowd to place in it a single inspirational word. Fuller's was "voice."