Graham County appoints Stephanie Newton as interim justice of the peace

Graham County supervisors on Jan. 5 appointed Stephanie Newton to serve as interim justice of the peace from Jan. 12, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2026. Board members described a competitive pool of five applicants and said they prioritized a candidate who could shorten the learning curve and address a backlog of cases created by Judge Palmer's illness.

Supervisors noted several applicants had advanced degrees and prior county employment. One supervisor said the appointment was difficult because many candidates were qualified; another urged those not selected to continue their campaigns for the office, which voters will ultimately decide. The motion to appoint Newton passed by voice vote.