Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Asbell has served as your elected District Attorney for the past 9 ½ years and is now serving her third consecutive term as District Attorney.

Asbell graduated from Emory University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.  She graduated from Tulane University School of Law with a Juris Doctorate Degree in 1992.  During her 17 years as both an Assistant District Attorney and District Attorney, she has tried all types of cases in District and Superior Court ranging from First Degree Murder cases (both Capital and Non-Capital) and all serious felony cases to traffic offenses. 

Asbell has taken a very active role in advocating for victims of Domestic Violence.  Asbell is a Member of the North Carolina Domestic Violence Commission, which meets regularly in Raleigh, North Carolina. She is also a Board Member of the Roanoke Chowan Domestic Violence Task Force and a member of the Coordinated Community Response Team.  She is also a member of the Child Fatality Board in each of her counties.

Asbell has served as an instructor and speaker about domestic violence issues at the Federal Domestic Violence Conference (One State, One Theme, and One Response) held every two years.  She has also served as a speaker at the Federal Drug Investigation Training Conference (OCDETF-EDNC) that is held annually to provide law enforcement officers and prosecutors with specialized training in effective drug enforcement and prosecution.  She is also a Speaker for the Conference of District Attorneys and the Institute of Government; Asbell has also taught trial advocacy courses at the National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina.  Asbell has sponsored numerous Gang Awareness Forums and has also sponsored numerous trainings for our local law enforcement officers on a wide variety of legal issues.

"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this community for the past 17 years.  I believe now, just as I did 10 years ago, that the District Attorney should be fair, honest, experienced and accessible to all people and I will continue to serve you in that manner.  My office has over 30 years of prosecutorial experience between my 17 years of service and the combined 18 years of  prosecutorial service of my Assistant District Attorneys."

"My goal has always been to instill the faith of the public in their District Attorney's Office.  I have worked diligently over the past seventeen years to make this community a safer place to live by asking for and receiving substantial active sentences for habitual felons, drug dealers, murderers, and child molesters along with other serious felony offenders.  As your District Attorney, I am a constant voice for all victims and have an open door policy for all citizens.  My staff and I are committed to achieving justice for our district's most vulnerable residents with professionalism and integrity.  I demand justice so that our streets, neighborhoods, and schools remain a safe place. I have continuously fought for victims' rights and have also been fair in my dealings, striking a good balance between toughness and compassion to all concerned."

"I am very proud of the regard in which my professional staff is held. My Assistant District Attorneys are very professional in their jobs and very active in the community as well.  My Victim Witness Legal Assistants have tirelessly worked toward sympathetically delivering the many services which crime victims must receive by law.  Additionally, my staff provides many services not mandated by law, but which crime victims have every right to expect."