ADA Holden, three others not invited back to work in January

It’s out with the old and in with the new for Bladen, Brunswick, and Columbus Counties as Jon David takes over as District Attorney. He replaces long-time DA Rex Gore in January.

David is getting ready to stack his legal staff with some fresh, new faces. David has yet to take office, but he’s already working toward building a new team.

He decided not to ask four assistant district attorneys who worked for Gore to join his staff. The four, including Erin Holden, who’s problems in the courtroom we documented earlier this year, are on paid leave until their last day January 3.

David said is looking forward to improving the justice system in the three county-area. He said it all starts with a strong legal team.

“If you want to make a fundamental change to an organization you start with the people who are there,” he said. “What I’ve done since the election is embarked on a process of reviewing the current staff and looking forward to my future needs, and I’ve acted decisively on the information I have.”

David will take his oath of office January 3.

He said he has spent a good deal of time speaking with Gore and his ADAs since the election.

David wants to take the office in a new direction. He said finding a team that can work together is key.

David is currently working to fill five ADA positions, because another of Gore’s assistants resigned in October.