Governor Roy Cooper today named District Attorney Robert A. Evans of the Seventh Judicial District as the new chairman of the Governor’s Crime Commission.
“District Attorney Evans will bring deep knowledge of the justice system and law enforcement along with even-handed judgment to guide the 44 members of the Crime Commission,” Cooper said. “I’m grateful that D.A. Evans is willing to take on this challenging and crucial role on behalf of our state.”
Evans has been the district attorney for Nash, Edgecombe and Wilson counties since 2009. He served as a District Court judge from 1999 to 2008. Prior to that time, he maintained a general law practice in Rocky Mount that focused on trial and appellate work.
Evans graduated from Rocky Mount Senior High School in 1970. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1974, and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1977.
Evans has served on numerous civic committees and he is the past president of the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys, having served as president from 2014 to 2015.
The Governor's Crime Commission serves as the chief advisory body to the governor and the secretary of the Department of Public Safety on crime and justice issues. The Commission sets program priorities and reviews and makes recommendations to the governor for grant awards.
Commission members are comprised of leaders in statewide criminal justice and human service agencies, representatives from the courts, law enforcement, local government, the General Assembly, non-profit agencies, private citizens and youth representatives.