Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A new superior court judge has been sworn in for Stanly and Montgomery counties.

Adam Elkins, 33, worked locally as an assistant district attorney in Stanly and Montgomery counties.

Elkins grew up in Montgomery, graduating from West Montgomery High School. He earned degrees from North Carolina State in 2013 and Campbell Law School in 2016.

Judge Patrick Nadolski said Elkins was “a hard worker. He’s smart and he’s willing to help out wherever needed. He’s going to be a welcome addition to the judge’s office, and we are happy to have him.”

Stanly Clerk of Court Ginger Efird said she remembered meeting Elkins when he was a prosecutor, noting she remembered “quite well his mild and meek demeanor, much like his late grandfather,” referring to Will Atkinson. Atkinson started his law practice in Troy in 1973 and practiced for 50 years.

Efird said at the time most of the other prosecutors were older than she was, adding, “now I had this young prosecutor, and I was like, ‘This is not going to go well. He’s going to think he knows it all.’ ”

Efird said Elkins “exceeded my expectations as a prosecutor, and quickly became one of my favorites when he became the chief assistant. He and I became an ‘A’ team, working closely on many issues, seeking justice for the citizens whom we serve.”

She said she believed Elkins would show the same traits of fairness, impartiality, conciseness, being methodical and confidence.

District Attorney T. Lynn Clodfelter, who serves the N.C. 28th Prosecutorial District of Stanly and Montgomery counties, said anytime someone has success in life, “it’s always a combination of hard work, intelligence, good timing, a little bit of luck and taking advantage of opportunities when they are given…when somebody like Adam is here at his age, it’s clear that is all coming together.”

Clodfelter noted many young law school graduates want the bright lights and big cities like Charlotte and Raleigh.

“Adam came home. He came home to this community he lived in, and he came home to the community in which his grandfather Will Atkinson maintained a law practice,” Clodfelter said.

“I won’t speak for your grandfather, but I can only imagine how proud he would be to be here today,” Clodfelter said.

Elkins leaving the district attorney’s office, Clodfelter said, “is going to leave a big hole in my office, I’m sure, for a long period of time. You don’t find people like him with his skill and capabilities out there. He understands the people of Stanly and Montgomery counties. He understands their needs.”

After taking the oath of office, Elkins thanked his wife, Morgan, and his parents who raised him and his two siblings.

Responding to Efird’s earlier comments, Elkins said they “had an interesting relationship. I wasn’t sure how it would go when I started and it was like, ‘Go ask Ginger.’ ‘Go talk to Ginger.’ Why is Ginger like doing everything? (I) came to find out it’s because Ginger knows everything. She has the answer to everything.”

Elkins also thanked Clodfelter, saying he learned a lot working for him, along with the many judges and attorneys in attendance at the ceremony.

“I’ve always tried to be fair to people…I do try to see both sides of things,” Elkins said. “Sometimes there is the stick; sometimes there is compassion, and I’ve tried to live and be that way in my professional life. I strive that I will continue to do that from the bench.”

Elkins takes over for Kevin Bridges, who retired after serving as Superior Court judge since 2009.