Jennifer L. Crawford

Education.

Jennifer attended Muskingum University in Ohio where she graduated with highest honors in 3 years with a B.A. degree in two majors: one in French and one in International Business in 1998.  During undergraduate school, she studied for a semester in Trois Rivieres in Quebec, Canada, and used that immersion to teach French to elementary students in after-school programs.  Jennifer was the student assistant to the head of the Business Department at Muskingum while she also ran the French Lab in the evenings for language students.  She interned for the late Senator John Glenn of Ohio and helped in the coordination of his announcement of his return to space.

Jennifer attended Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law where she obtained her Juris Doctor in 2001.  At Campbell, she was selected as a member of the Trial Advocacy Team, which resulted in her nomination for and receipt of The Barrister’s Award. In 1999 she was elected President of Campbell’s R.C. Bryan Senate of Delta Theta Phi, a professional law fraternity and member of the Professional Fraternity Association. Jennifer was also President of The Christian Legal Society from 2000-2001.  She earned Book Awards, as the top student, in multiple subjects at Campbell.   

Experience.

Immediately after law school, Jennifer joined a criminal defense firm, concentrating on district court trial work.  She then hopped the fence to the prosecutorial side of courtroom advocacy to the Wake County District Attorney’s Office where she discovered a particular passion for the protection of domestic violence victims.  As an Assistant District Attorney, Jennifer tried cases in misdemeanor traffic court, misdemeanor criminal court, misdemeanor appeals, and some felony domestic violence trials specializing in stalking and strangulation.  She ran courtrooms focusing on domestic violence, restraining orders, juvenile delinquency, and misdemeanor appeals.  Additionally she trained officers in crime scene response, cooperated with community-based outreach regarding family violence intervention, and served on the Governor’s Task Force for Domestic Violence.

Jennifer then transitioned in 2007 to the Wake County Magistrate’s Office where she worked on both the civil and criminal aspects of the office. Her responsibilities included conducting probable cause hearings, involuntary commitment, advising officers regarding charging instruments, testifying in court regarding DWI’s, setting misdemeanor and felony criminal bonds and appropriate release conditions, performing civil marriage ceremonies, conducting involuntary commitment hearings, and reviewing and granting search warrants.  

Community. 

Jennifer serves a local nursing home with her family for birthdays and holidays, and also by volunteering to provide church services for the residents.  Additionally, she and her kids often serve at the With Love from Jesus food pantry.  She is active in her church and she and her husband both host and lead a high school Bible study in their home where she often cooks for 15-20 teenagers on Wednesday nights.

Personal.

Jennifer’s greatest takeaway from law school was her husband.  She stepped back from her legal career for a little over a decade to raise full-time and homeschool her kids, who now are almost all taller than her.  Having a special needs son has inspired her involvement with autism-related causes, such as Special Olympics and church-based special needs classrooms.  Becoming the guardian of her Alzheimer’s affected grandparents has expanded her desire to serve special populations.  Having one Belgian Malinois and one English Lab has necessitated her constantly carrying a lint brush. Coming from Ohio she still struggles to rank basketball above football, especially when it concerns the Buckeyes, but she’s learning.   

Bar Admissions.

North Carolina