**Three Salisbury Attorneys Earn Prestigious State Board Certification in Criminal Law**
Of the nine lawyers board-certified in criminal law by the North Carolina State Bar Association this year, three practice right here in Salisbury. Paxton Butler of the Davis and Davis firm, Ryan Stowe of the Stowe firm, and Darrin Jordan of the Whitley, Jordan, Inge and Rary firm each earned board certification in this year’s cycle.
The board certification process is rigorous, requiring not only a six-hour examination but also recommendations and reviews by peers and judges, addressing the quality of an attorney’s work throughout their career. Out of the more than 30,000 accredited lawyers in the state, only 200 individuals are board-certified in criminal law at either the state or federal level.
**Paxton Butler: Decades of Experience**
Butler has been practicing law for more than 25 years, serving as an assistant district attorney for the majority of his career. His focus has primarily been on criminal work, specializing in child sex abuse and murder cases during his time under the district attorney’s office. In 2021, he joined Davis and Davis after making the switch to defense work.
“I thought it was time to have something to let folks know that this is someone with enough experience to handle any problem you might come across,” Butler said. After about five years as a defense attorney, Butler achieved this accomplishment, solidifying his prowess in criminal law. Davis and Davis now boasts two attorneys with board certifications across four specialties.
“We are a unique law firm. We’re growing all the time,” Butler said. “I can turn around, and I’ve got four different specialties I can go to and ask a question of. It just makes everybody better.”
**Ryan Stowe: Raising the Local Bar**
Stowe is the youngest of this year’s class from Rowan County with only eight years of experience practicing law. Despite not having as much experience on paper, he was encouraged by a contemporary to pursue this accomplishment.
“There’s not very many board-certified specialists, and many of them have been practicing for 20 years when they apply for certification. So, I was shocked to have gotten it at only eight years,” Stowe remarked.
Stowe is a Salisbury native and a first-generation attorney who focuses on criminal defense at his firm. He attended North Carolina Central University for both undergraduate and law school, where he was an active member of the Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society and served in student leadership. He remains committed to serving the local community.
“We are really raising the bar locally and showing folks that they don’t have to go out to Charlotte or Greensboro to get a good lawyer. They can get one right here in Salisbury,” Stowe said.
**Darrin Jordan: Expanding Expertise to Federal Law**
The final accreditation was awarded to Jordan, who has held board certification in state-level criminal law since 2004. This year’s certification elevates his recognized expertise to the federal level — making him the only attorney in this year’s class recognized for federal criminal law.
“It’s just a way of me being able to make sure that I stay at a high standard,” Jordan said. “It gives me a push to better myself through continued legal education.”
A Salisbury native and active community member, Jordan emphasized the importance of his certification in providing federal legal support within the county.
“I just look at this board certification to let them know, ‘No, there are qualified lawyers here in town,’” Jordan reflected. “I think we have a good saturation of board-certified lawyers. That’s impressive. I’m proud of our county.”
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With these achievements, Salisbury continues to be home to high-quality legal expertise, providing residents access to top-tier criminal law specialists without leaving the community.
https://www.salisburypost.com/2025/12/31/three-salisbury-lawyers-receive-nc-bar-board-certification/
