SNOW HILL — Former Greene County magistrate Patrick Allen Cobb moved up — a floor and a position. He officially took the oath as clerk of court on Monday morning.
“I’m extremely thankful and blessed,” he said.
Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Paul L. Jones appointed Cobb to the position and presided over the swearing-in ceremony.
“I trust (Cobb’s) honesty, integrity, people skills and willingness to learn,” Jones said. “… I think he will serve effectively in the position.”
Jones said he selected Cobb because of his educational background, residence in Greene County and agreement to receive the necessary training through the Institute of Government.
A number of months ago, Jones said, a deputy clerk voluntarily resigned after it was discovered that serious errors had been made in the records.
“It was very serious and it could have resulted in a lawsuit,” the judge said.
Jones said he is confident in Cobb’s abilities.
“He is No. 1 in the office,” Jones said is the reason he appointed Cobb. “He is at a relatively young age, so he can serve in the position for a relatively long time.”
Cobb is finishing the last year of Sandra Sutton’s four-year term. Sutton officially retired Dec. 1.
A native and resident of Walstonburg, Cobb, 30, graduated from Greene Central High School in 2001.
“I lived here my entire life except for the first year after I married,” he said.
The son of Allen and Linda Cobb, he married Amy White Cobb, a teacher at E.B. Frink Middle School, and the couple has a 2-year-old son, Tyson, and baby on the way.
Cobb attended Pitt Community College and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice criminology at Mount Olive College in 2010.
The same year, he began his career as a magistrate.
“My father was a deputy sheriff and a magistrate for 16 years,” Cobb said. “I wanted to be like my father.”
As a magistrate, he was responsible for presiding over small claims court, issuing warrants, setting bonds and performing marriage ceremonies, he said.
“There are some differences, but in a way they’re related,” he said, comparing a magistrate with the clerk of court.
The clerk of court administers oaths, keeps records safe and handles banking, he said.
Within his first hour of duty on Monday, Cobb said he had made a deposit and administered five oaths.
“We had the ball rolling,” he said.
Cobb said Jones asked him if he was interested in advancing to the clerk of court’s position, and Cobb saw it as an opportunity.
“I always wanted to be the best that I can be in anything,” he said.
Cobb said he’s ready for the challenge and anticipates running in the November election to keep his seat.
“If I’m going to do something,” he said, “I’m going to do it right.”
Cobb, who played football and baseball through high school, said he loves the outdoors. His current activities include hunting, fishing, golf and softball.
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.