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About Aminah

My name is Aminah Thompson. I am eminently qualified, with 15 years of leadership experience and service. I lead with integrity, equity, and compassion. As a Magistrate Judge, I have presided over countless civil and landlord-tenant cases, performed hundreds of marriages, issued search and arrest warrants, involuntary commitments, ex parte domestic violence protective orders, presided over administrative traffic court, and set conditions of release. I consistently demonstrate my competence, trustworthiness, organizational awareness, and commitment to equity and social justice through my involvement in community and educational organizations. My twelve years on the bench has revealed a system in serious need of immediate attention—both in how it interfaces with the public and how it works within itself. I have the necessary background, firsthand experience, and the dedication to address many of these systemic disparities that I have experienced and observed.

As a judicial official, Magistrate Thompson is committed to providing equitable access to an impartial forum and efficient service to all court officials, related agencies, members of the bar, and the public.

My Story

I was born in Greenville, South Carolina, the daughter of two educators. Both civil rights and social justice activists, my parents infused in me the value of education, integrity, and accountability. They also stressed the importance of demanding equal access to information and resources, then sharing that knowledge with the community that sacrificed so much on my behalf.

I spent my formative years in Amherst, MA, and Lawrence, KS, before moving to Durham in 1999 for school. I earned my bachelor’s degree from Duke University and Juris Doctorate from the University of North Carolina  School of Law in Chapel Hill. Since law school, I have dedicated my career to public service. Because of my love for this city, and its history of and potential for greatness, I have decided to make Durham home. I am the mother of a precious two-year-old boy, Josiah who, along with the citizens, provides me with the motivation to effectuate change.

I am gravely concerned about the availability of resources, equal access to those resources, and the equitable administration of justice. As I undertake this challenge, I strive to embody the values of integrity, accountability, and service that my parents instilled in me as a child. I fully understand that my work as Clerk of Court will have a direct, immediate, and long-lasting effect on the lives and legacies of Durham citizens. I do not take this responsibility lightly. I am committed to being deliberate, compassionate, respectful, and fair as I continue serving the citizens of Durham County.

Community Engagement

A long-time resident of Durham, Magistrate Thompson immerses herself in the community by serving on various boards and committees. She is a proud member of Union Baptist Church and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Alpha Zeta Omega Chapter. In addition, many professional, educational, and civic associations have been recipients of her leadership, guidance, and stewardship. These include:

  • Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People – Legal Redress Vice-Chair
  • Durham People’s Alliance – Racial Equity Action Team Co-Lead
  • Duke Black Alumni – Regional Board Co-Chair
  • Association for the Advancement of Educational Research – Leadership Council
  • International Association of Woman Judges
  • North Carolina Magistrates Association
  • LIFE Skills Foundation – Past Board of Directors Vice President
  • Durham Democratic Party – Past Precinct 53-1 Vice-Chair
  • Duke Alumni Association – Past Regional Board Secretary

You can find her work on housing discrimination published in The Encyclopedia of Diversity and Social Justice and that on Actualization, published in Until It’s Time: A Collection of Essays on the Power of Waiting.