Fred M. Morelock

Fred Morelock received his bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1974 and his law degree from UNC in 1976. He then practiced as a trial attorney for ten years in the areas of criminal defense and family law litigation before being appointed to the bench. He joined Tharrington Smith in 2001. In 1986, Mr. Morelock was appointed by Governor James G. Martin to a Wake County district court judgeship. He was reelected three times and served for fourteen years. In 1990, Mr. Morelock became the first judge in Wake County to become a Certified Juvenile Law Specialist. During the last several years on the bench, he presided almost exclusively in domestic court, most recently in North Carolina's first designated specialized judgeship in the area of family law. As a district court judge, Mr. Morelock was a frequent speaker and instructor for continuing legal education seminars for attorneys (North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers and Bar Association) and for judges (North Carolina Association of District Court Judges and the Institute of Government New Judges School) on various family law issues. He has also been a seminar speaker for the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants and the Wake County public school principals. Mr. Morelock has served on the Board of Directors of the Wake County Bar Association and its Professionalism Committee, the Raleigh Rescue Mission, and Carolina Legal Assistance. Mr. Morelock's practice includes the representation of clients in all areas of family law, as well as mediation and arbitration. He is admitted to practice in all state courts and the federal district courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina. Mr. Morelock is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and its family law section. He is former chair of the Grievance Committee for the 10th Judicial District and most recently was appointed by the State Bar Council to the Disciplinary Hearing Commission. He is a Certified Superior Court Mediator and a Certified Family Financial Mediator. Mr. Morelock is married to Jeannie S. Morelock, and they have two teenage sons. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Fred M. Morelock included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2006 North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2008 - 2015 Business North Carolina's "Legal Elite", 2009 Family Law section of Best Lawyers of America®, 2006 - 2020 10th Judicial District Bar Appreciation Award, 2010 Family Mediation Section of Best Lawyers of America®, 2013 - 2020 Other Sources of Feedback About Fred M. Morelock Included on the 2026North Carolina Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2024 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2023 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2022 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2021 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2020 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2019 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2018 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2017 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2016 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2015 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2014 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2013 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2012 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2011 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2010 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2009 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2008 North Carolina Super Lawyers list 2006 North Carolina Super Lawyers list

• Attorney

• Trial Attorney, Criminal & Family Law, 1976 - 1986
• North Carolina District Court, 10th Judicial District, District Court Judge, 1986 - 2000

• Family Law Intensive Seminar, Recapture of Alimony, 2008
• Perils and Pitfalls in ADR, Arbitration and Post Hearing Matters, 2005

• North Carolina, 1976
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of North Carolina
• U.S. District Court Middle District of North Carolina
• Specialties and Certifications
• Superior Court Mediator
• Family Financial Mediator
• Juvenile Law Specialist

• North Carolina Bar Association (Member)
• Grievance Committee for the 10th Judicial District (Chair)
• State Bar Council to the Disciplinary Hearing Commission
• Raleigh Rescue Mission
• Carolina Legal Assistance (Member)
• North Carolina State Bar, Family Law Section (Member)
• State Bar Council, Disciplinary Hearing Commission, 2014 - Present (Vice-Chair)