Columbus County Superior Court cases in Columbus County, Whiteville, NC
Columbus County Superior Court in Whiteville, North Carolina, is a Superior Court (trial court of general jurisdiction) within the state's General Court of Justice. It handles felony criminal cases; civil lawsuits typically seeking more than $25,000 or equitable relief; and jury trials. The court also hears appeals for trial de novo from District Court in misdemeanor and infraction matters, including traffic offenses, and reviews certain special proceedings and clerk decisions (such as foreclosures or partitions) as provided by statute. Family law, juvenile, and most traffic cases originate in District Court, not Superior Court, unless appealed or joined with felony charges.
Columbus County Superior Court Contact and Location Information
| Court Type: | Superior Court |
| County: | Columbus |
| Street Address: | 113 Courthouse Sq. |
| City: | Whiteville |
| Zip Code: | 28472 |
| Phone: | 910-641-4400 |
| Hours: | Monday - Friday 8:30AM – 5:00PM |
| Website URL: | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/columbus-county/columbus-county-courthouse |
| Forms & Filing: | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/columbus-county/columbus-county-local-rules-and-forms |
| Dockets / Schedule / Calendar: | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/columbus-county/columbus-county-local-administrative-schedules |
| Jury Service: | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/columbus-county/columbus-county-jury-service |
| Languages: | Multiple |
| Facebook: | https://www.facebook.com/jess.hill.9047 |
| Twitter: | https://twitter.com/hill4clerk |
| ADA: | Cindy Patrick, Trial Court Coordinator |
| ADA Phone: | 910-641-4412 |
| ADA Fax / Email: | Columbus.DAC@nccourts.org |
| Special Access: | Electric doors, Wheelchair ramp, Elevators are available. |
| About / Additional Info: | Established in 1777, the superior courts are North Carolina’s oldest courts. Superior courts hear civil and criminal cases. Superior court is divided into five divisions and 48 districts across the state. Every six months, superior court judges rotate among the districts within their divisions. The rotation system is provided for by the state constitution and designed to minimize conflicts of interest that might result from having a permanent judge in one district. Each administrative superior court district has a senior resident superior court judge who manages the administrative duties of the court. 13A Superior court district consists of Bladen and Columbus counties. |
| Wikipedia: | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_County_Courthouse |
Services and Case Types Handled in Columbus County Superior Court
Columbus County Superior Court serves the public by:
- Criminal: Handles felony cases from indictment through arraignment, motions, jury trial, and sentencing; manages grand jury; hears felony probation violations and appeals of misdemeanors/infractions from District Court (trial de novo).
- Civil: Hears civil actions generally exceeding $25,000, including injunctions/TROs; conducts jury and nonjury trials; enforces judgments and liens.
- Special proceedings via the Clerk of Superior Court: Estates, guardianships, foreclosures, adoptions, name changes, incompetency, and other statutory matters; processes expunction petitions.
- Filings and records: Accepts and maintains case filings, calendars hearings, issues summons/subpoenas, provides copies/certified records, and collects court costs, fines, and restitution.
- Protective orders: Clerk accepts filings for domestic violence (50B) and civil no‑contact (50C) orders; hearings typically occur in District Court.
- Jury services: Summons, orientation, check-in, deferrals/excuses, juror payment, and juror support during Superior Court trials.
- Public information: Docket schedules and courtroom assignments.