Judicial Experience
Judge Daniel Hines Entzminger
Since being elected in 2018, District Court Judge Daniel Hines Entzminger has served the Judicial District 3 in Pitt County, North Carolina.
Judge Daniel Hines Entzminger has presided over tens of thousands of cases during his time on the bench. He handles family law proceedings, domestic violence hearings, traffic court, involuntary commitment hearings, setting bonds for serious felony cases, child support court, and civil jury sessions.
Judge Entzminger understands that managing a case in traffic court is distinctly different from overseeing a child custody hearing. Certain courtrooms, such as traffic and child support court, typically have large dockets and demand judges to employ strong time management skills to process numerous cases efficiently. Conversely, family law and domestic violence hearings necessitate patience, attentiveness, and a solid understanding of the law to achieve fair outcomes. Judge Entzminger possesses the skill and experience to manage a broad range of District Court matters effectively, having served in every type of hearing found in District Court.
Additionally, Judge Entzminger collaborated with other judges to address the significant backlog of cases that resulted from Covid-19 court closures. The Covid-19 pandemic forced court personnel to take extra precautions and limited the number of people who could be in court at one time. These precautions eventually resulted in a backlog of cases that had to be resolved. Because of the efforts of Judge Entzminger and his fellow judges, that case backlog was eliminated in a prompt and effective manner.
More recently, in 2025, Judge Entzminger participated in extensive training on the implementation of the new E-courts filing system. The E-courts filing system eliminated the use of paper files for the court system, replacing them with digital records. This transition to digital records provides broader access to court records for the general public. Judge Entzminger worked with attorneys, clerks, and other court personnel in the implementation of this new system which has revolutionized the way that court cases are being processed.
Judge Entzminger has pursued extensive training on many issues currently facing our District Courts. He continues to stay up to date on recently passed legislation, like Iryna’s Law and the Pre-Trial Integrity Act. Judge Entzminger’s continued training for our changing court system enables him to follow the law while working efficiently for the people of North Carolina.
But perhaps most importantly, Judge Entzminger cares about the people who appear in District Court. He is known for fairness, patience, and a respectful demeanor, while maintaining an orderly courtroom. Over the years, he has presided over thousands of cases as a District Court Judge, and he has heard from many different people during that time. He understands that every individual deserves their day in court, and that while every case may be different, every person’s case is important.
Judge Daniel Hines Entzminger swearing in Ms. Essence Henderson, legal aid attorney.