Durham ADA Stephen McLaughlin Named MADD District Court Prosecutor of the Year
NEWS RELEASE
March 30, 2020
For immediate release
Durham ADA Stephen McLaughlin Named MADD District Court Prosecutor of the Year
DURHAM, NC — Assistant District Attorney Stephen McLaughlin has been named the 2019 District Court Prosecutor of the Year by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) of North Carolina.
McLaughlin serves as a prosecutor on the Durham County District Attorney’s Office Traffic Team. He was sworn in as a prosecutor with the DA’s Office in 2017, having already served as a certified intern and volunteer prosecutor.
“It is an absolute honor just to be nominated and I will be forever grateful for receiving this award,” McLaughlin said.
MADD’s annual Awards of Excellence were announced Friday, March 20. The awards recognize prosecutors, law enforcement officers and agencies who go “above and beyond their job requirements.”
As a member of the Traffic Team, McLaughlin prosecutes traffic cases in District Court as well as felony traffic cases and misdemeanors that have been appealed in Superior Court. He works to communicate with victims, gather evidence such as medical records and crash reconstruction, meet with defense attorneys, and achieve case outcomes that hold people accountable while positively impacting their driving behavior.
But McLaughlin’s efforts to make Durham’s roads safer go above and beyond his work in court, says Dale Morrill, the lead prosecutor over the Traffic Team, who nominated McLaughlin for the award.
“Stephen’s intelligence and understanding of the law are bonuses to keeping Durham’s roads safe,” says Morrill, a former recipient of the MADD Prosecutor of the Year award. “His dedication and persistence in his work are priceless.”
In addition to his traffic caseload, McLaughlin frequently volunteers his time to speak to the public about the dangers of impaired driving, distracted driving, and speeding. In 2019, he volunteered each month to speak to both the Right Choice and StreetSafe driving classes in Durham. Along with other members of the Traffic Team, he helps to train law enforcement officers in report writing, courtroom procedures and field sobriety testing.
“Speaking at these classes and working with members of our community are further proof that we can positively change people’s driving behavior,” McLaughlin said. “And being able to work with our law enforcement agencies in and out of court helps to create and solidify relationships that further our mission of making our roads and community safer. Whether through attending checkpoints, driving schools or Standard Field Sobriety Training, our personal and professional investments are all for one common goal: a safer community.”
While the goals of the Traffic Team are first and foremost justice and public safety, McLaughlin has secured convictions in many serious traffic cases during his time with the DA’s Office, including impaired driving cases and vehicle fatalities. In nominating McLaughlin for the MADD award, Morrill noted how his efficiency and expertise have contributed to a significant decline in the backlog of impaired driving cases in Durham awaiting blood-alcohol testing.
“Stephen has a deep understanding of the devastating impact of impaired and distracted driving in our community,” said Durham District Attorney Satana Deberry. “He has seen firsthand how quickly lives can change for ordinary members of our community when they are involved in a motor vehicle accident. He has devoted hours of time in court and in training to provide the best outcomes for victims and defendants in court. He is an invaluable member of our Traffic Team and valued member of our community.”
The Durham County District Attorney’s Office employs about 40 people, including prosecutors, administrators, victim service coordinators, legal assistants, and support staff. The Office is led by District Attorney Satana Deberry, who took office on January 1, 2019. The Office handles all criminal cases in Durham County.
