The Hon. Amanda L. Maris is a judge for the Durham County District Court in the 14th Judicial District of North Carolina. She was appointed to the bench by Governor Roy Cooper on August 1, 2017, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of the Hon. Marcia Morey.
Over the course of her judicial career, Maris played an instrumental role in the creation of the Durham Expunction and Restoration (DEAR) Program, which seeks to increase access to expunctions, certificates of relief, debt relief, and driver’s license restoration for local residents.
Maris earned a bachelor’s degree in communications (rhetorical studies) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2000. She then completed a J.D. at North Carolina Central University School of Law in 2006.
Shortly after graduating from law school, Maris began her legal career as an assistant public defender with the Durham County Public Defender’s Office. She served in that capacity until her appointment to the bench, supplementing her practice with service as a co-founder of a public expunction clinic in partnership with Legal Aid of North Carolina.
Her memberships have included the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys, and the Durham County Bar Association. She has also been involved with the Inclusion Committee at Camp Shelanu, and she has served on the boards of Jewish for Good, the Durham County Teen Court and Restitution Program, and Rebound: Alternatives for Youth.
She is registered as a Democrat.