DIRECT EXAMINATION

DIRECT EXAMINATION: JUDGE NED W. MANGUM

1.When you were in elementary school, what did you want to be when you grew up? I was convinced I would play pro football, baseball and basketball. After that I wanted to be a scientist. Both of those were out of my head by middle school.

2.What was the most important lesson your parents taught you?

To be self-sufficient. Mom and Dad were “hands off” in their parenting style. They pretty much they let me do what I wanted. With that came the responsibility of doing things yourself. If you want a driver’s license, then figure it out yourself.

3.Who was your favorite teacher and why?

Bonnie Love in fifth grade at Frances Lacy. She was strict but also one of the most caring people I have ever met. After 35 years, we are currently Facebook friends.

4.Did you love or hate law school?

Maybe a bit of both. I was 22 when I started and very naïve about what I was getting myself into. Met some great friends though.

5. What was your most embarrassing courtroom experience?

Has to be the time a Defendant was screaming in court during a sentencing hearing and called me a “big greasy porkchop.” Somehow that was newsworthy as the N&O wrote an article about it the next day.

6.What was your best courtroom experience?

Have to say every time I get to swear in a new lawyer is special. The highlight is several months ago, when I had the honor of swearing in our newest district court judge, Rashad Hauter.

7. Why did you become a lawyer?

I wish I had a better answer for that other than I have always wanted to. It wasn’t until my third year of law school that I realized I wanted to be inside a courtroom. I realized that I could help people do something I really enjoy. 8. What has been the most surprising or unexpected development in your career?

It has to be the time the governor asked me to serve as Wake County district attorney. The governor’s office called me and asked me if I would do it and my first response was “really?!” Colon Willoughby was standing next to me. I got off the phone with governor’s office and told Colon and his response was “really?!”

9. What is your favorite book?

The first Star Wars movie. My older brother took me to see it. It was the first movie I ever saw in a theater. And now my three boys love all of them. It so much fun when we all go to watch a new one.

10.What is your most marked characteristic?

I am pretty hard core about being on time. Just ask my wife and kids. If we have a flight to catch, I’m like “let’s leave three hours early so we can get a bite to eat” and we always sit there for two hours with my wife and kids rolling their eyes at me.

11.Who are your real-life heroes?

My brother-in-law, Hughie Freel was a Navy SEAL for his 20-year career in the Navy. As a kid, I got to spend a lot of time at the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado, Calif., where the SEALs train. Their sacrifice and dedication is just incredible. They just decide that they will never quit in spite of all circumstances. That’s a life lesson for all of us. My youngest son, Hughie, is named after him.

12.When and where were you happiest?

When I am driving my wife, Robin, and my two younger boys, Gus (13) and Hugh (10), up to see my oldest son, Bear (17), play football for Woodberry Forest School in Orange, Va.

DIRECT EXAMINATION IS THE FIRST opportunity for the jury to meet a witness. An effective lawyer will use the opportunity to personalize the witness, making the witness appear both likeable and credible. At the end of the day, the direct examination is a party’s best chance to tell his or her story.