Coward
Franklin – Judicial District 43A Senior Resident Superior Court Judge William Coward is effectively retired, although his official retirement date is Feb. 1.
Coward submitted notice of his retirement in a letter to court clerks in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon and Swain counties on Dec. 6.
 |
Gov. Roy Cooper is expected to appoint his successor, with the office coming up for a vote in the November election. At least two people – senior assistant district attorney John S. Hindsman Jr. and District Court Judge Tessa Sellers – are seeking Cooper’s appointment.
In his letter, Coward said he will assist in the transition to his appointed successor and whoever wins the seat outright in November. His last day at work was Jan. 5 in Hendersonville, with the last day in his district on Dec. 17 in Clay County.
“I have been truly blessed to work in your county over the last 10 years,” Coward wrote. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the kindness you’ve shown me throughout my time as judge.”
Coward said he retired to spend more time with his grandchildren, who are “scattered across the nation,” enjoy life with his wife of 35 years and “enjoy the fruits of many decades of hard work while God is still blessing me with good health.”
Jane Capman will remain as court coordinator “for as long as my successor has the good sense to keep her (which I hope will be a long time),” he wrote.
Coward said he will continue to write and record original music. He has also been urged to write about his time on the bench.
Coward served as a Superior Court judge since he was appointed to the bench on the Eighth Division by then-Gov. Pat McCrory in 2013. He ran for office in 2014 unopposed.
In 2018, the N.C. General Assembly revised the state Superior Court, District Court and prosecutorial districts, and Coward’s seat on the Eighth Division was absorbed into the Fifth Division.
He has served a North Carolina Fifth Superior Court Division Judicial District 30A judge since 2019. The division covers the five westernmost counties of Cherokee, Clay Graham, Macon and Swain.
Coward received his undergraduate degree from Davidson College and his J.D. degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. He practiced law with his firm – Coward, Hicks & Silver – for more than 25 years. He also served as town attorney for Highlands.