Judge Hassell's Professional Background
As a youth growing up in Greensboro, Robby would be entertained by his mother's tales of observing her father litigate cases on behalf of the Pennsylvania Railroad, where upon one occasion in her own youth, she traveled with her family to see him appear before the U.S. Supreme Court.
While serving a Congressional internship with L. Richardson Preyer (a former state and federal judge), Robby had the opportunity to meet Justice Thurgood Marshall in his chambers at the Court. A subsequent college internship with future Judge (and current Davidson College President) Tom Ross marked the beginning of a long-term professional and family relationship. The additional experiences of serving as a research assistant in law school as well as a summer clerkship at the N.C. Court of Appeals for Judge Jack Cozort further whetted Robby's appetite for a future career in law and the judiciary.
As an assistant public defender for over six years, Robby had the opportunity to represent juveniles in delinquency matters as well as adult indigent defendants charged in misdemeanor, traffic, and felony jury and non-jury cases, and also handled issues before the N.C. Court of Appeals.
In his years of private practice, Robby was associated with the civil litigation firm of Henson Henson Bayliss & Sue, where his fields of concentration included insurance coverage matters and workers compensation cases as he appeared in over twenty counties statewide as well as in the federal and appellate courts. During his years with the firm of Douglas Ravenel Hardy & Crihfield, his professional growth continued in a general practice setting which included family law and general criminal and traffic matters. In an office with several former local bar leaders, he came to appreciate the importance of professional service and associations.
Subsequent to his appointment to the district court by Governor Jim Hunt, Judge Hassell obtained certification as a juvenile court judge. In just his first year on the bench, he received an 80% approval and retention rating in a survey conducted by CourtWatch of North Carolina. In previous elections, he has been endorsed by the Rhinoceros Times, The News & Record, and has been endorsed three times by the George Simkins Citizens PAC and twice by the High Point Enterprise, the N.C. Association of Women Attorneys, and the Greensboro Police Benevolence Association. In prevailing in the May 2008 primary, Judge Hassell has to date been endorsed again by the Rhinoceros Times, the George Simkins PAC, and the NCAWA, as well as by the High Point Black Leadership Roundtable, Teamsters Local #391, and by the Fraternal Order of Police Triad Lodge #79.
In addition to being a licensed member of the North Carolina State Bar, he is admitted to appear before its state and federal courts and is a member of the American, North Carolina, and Greensboro Bar Associations, as well as an active member as a master in the Guilford Inn of Court.