Forsyth County Assistant P.D. Receives Criminal Law Award from Retired Judge Denise S. Hartsfield

Winston-Salem, N.C. — On Friday, December 1, the FCCDTLA awarded Forsyth County Public Defender Artrese Nicole Ziglar in a public ceremony open to members of the Forsyth County Bar.

Ms. Ziglar has been an assistant P.D. in the office of Paul James, III, the Chief Public Defender, since 2007. During that time, she has tried felonies and misdemeanors in the General Court of Justice for Forsyth County.

She also has done probation violations and bail hearings at the Forsyth County Hall of Justice for clients incarcerated and awaiting trial in the Forsyth County Detention Center. Currently, Ms. Ziglar is running for District Court Judge in Forsyth County, where she would become a resident jurist in District 31. She is the first African American woman to receive the Harvey Lupton Award for Outstanding Achievement in Criminal Law.

Born and raised in Winston-Salem, Ms. Ziglar attended the North Carolina Central University School of Law, where she graduated in 2007. She received her law license from the North Carolina State Bar in the fall of 2007.

"She's my main administrative court manager," said Mr. James, who nominated her. "The fact that I trust her means she's doing a good job."

For Mr. James, who is an avid soccer and skiing fan of few words, the nomination was intended as a compliment.

"Basically, she doesn't look for a scapegoat," said Beth Toomes, her colleague and fellow Assistant Public Defender since the office began. "She looks for solutions."

There are eighteen (18) Assistant Public Defenders in the employ of Mr. James' office in Forsyth County. Of these 18 assistant public defenders employed by North Carolina Indigent Defense Services ("IDS"), Ms. Ziglar is the fifth most senior.

The Hon. Denise S. Hartsfield, a retired District Court judge for Forsyth County, presented Ms. Ziglar with the award for public service to District 31. Jason Crump, an assistant capital defender in Forsyth County, quoted Scripture.

The event took place at Footnote, where many lifelong residents of Winston-Salem gathered to celebrate the winners.

Also awarded were Mr. William (Bill) Speaks, Jr. and Ms. Tiffany Hall, who is the jail population specialist at the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office.

The Forsyth County Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers Association has been in existence since the 1970s. Harvey A. Lupton was the Senior Resident Superior Court judge in Winston-Salem before his decease in 2001. Wake Forest University School of Law awards scholarships in his name.

The Forsyth County Publlc Defender's Office recently celebrated its 20th anniversary on September 8, 2023.