Brunswick County native chosen for elite U.S. Army Reserve military judge role

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. (WWAY) — A North Carolina Court of Appeals judge has been selected for a prestigious role within the U.S. Army Reserve.

Judge W. Fred Gore has been chosen to serve as a military judge in the Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s Corps, assigned to the 150th Legal Operations Detachment.

Officials say the position is highly competitive, with about 22 authorized roles nationwide. The selection recognizes Gore’s judicial experience, legal background and 34-year military career.

As a military judge, Gore will preside over courts-martial and other legal proceedings involving service members under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

“It is a profound honor to be selected to serve the U.S. Army JAG Corps in this capacity,” Gore said in a statement.

Gore is a native of Supply and a graduate of West Brunswick High School. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and his law degree from the Appalachian School of Law.

His military service began in 1992 in the infantry and has included deployments to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and again during Operation New Dawn/Spartan Shield. During those deployments, officials say he served in leadership roles, including as chief prosecutor and officer in charge, and received multiple military honors.

In his civilian career, Gore was elected to the North Carolina District Court bench, covering Brunswick, Bladen and Columbus counties in 2014. He was later elected to the North Carolina Court of Appeals in 2020 and took office in January 2021. He is currently serving on the court and is up for re-election in 2028.

Gore, now a lieutenant colonel, will continue serving on the Court of Appeals while taking on his new responsibilities in the Army Reserve.