MEET JUSTICE RICHARD DIETZ

Justice Dietz comes from a mountain family of railroad and telephone workers. From an early age, his parents encouraged him to study hard and to get an education. He succeeded, becoming the first in his family to attend college. He went on to graduate first in his class from Wake Forest University School of Law and later earned a master’s degree from Duke University School of Law.

As a lawyer, Justice Dietz became one of the most accomplished appellate advocates in North Carolina. He has personally argued in the U.S. Supreme Court—something only a handful of lawyers in the State have ever done—and is a board-certified specialist in appellate practice.

During his law career, Justice Dietz was a partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, a 650-lawyer international law firm with its roots in North Carolina. He also served as a law clerk for two highly regarded federal judges—Judge Emory Widener on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and Judge Samuel Wilson on the U.S. District Court in Virginia. Justice Dietz also worked as a research fellow in comparative law at Kyushu University in Japan.

In 2014, Justice Dietz joined the North Carolina Court of Appeals. He served as a judge on the Court of Appeals for eight years. In 2023, he joined the Supreme Court of North Carolina. During his time as an appellate judge, Justice Dietz has distinguished himself by writing thoughtful opinions that are concise and easy for the public to read and understand.

Justice Dietz is happily married to Kelley Dietz, who is both the love of his life and his most trusted advisor. Kelley is a former Capitol Hill staffer and political appointee who now works in higher education.