Judge Monica Bousman

Judge Bousman is the daughter of Dr. James Bousman, a retired Baptist minister, and Barbara Kirby Bousman, a retired elementary school teacher. The Bousman family moved to Hillsborough, North Carolina from Virginia in 1971 when Jim Bousman was a student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Monica graduated from Orange High School in 1974 and began college at NCSU in the fall of that year. Wake County became the family's permanent home in 1976 when Dr. Bousman became pastor of the Aversboro Baptist Church in Garner, where Monica and her parents are still members.

Judge Bousman is "big sister" to Melody Bousman Jones and Bobby Bousman. Melody is a pre-school teacher at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church and is married to Harry Jones, a history teacher and varsity baseball coach at Millbrook High School. Bobby is a buyer for P. C. Moore, Inc. in Cheraw, South Carolina and is married to DeAnna Henderson Bousman, a personal banker at First Citizens Bank.

Judge Bousman's favorite family role is that of "Aunt Monica" to Robert (11), Jacob (9), Caroline (8) and Kirby (7).While her service on the Bench keeps her busy, she still finds time to attend special school and church events featuring the children, alter ballet costumes, sew patches on the Brownie vest and assist with birthday parties. Judge Bousman believes that quality education is one of the keys to success for every child. She loves to find books that will encourage her nieces and nephews to read and improve their academic skills.

Judge Bousman on Children

"Since taking the Bench in 2001, the welfare of children has become my passion. I wish every child had the opportunity to be a part of a family like mine that has strong, loving bonds. My parents encouraged our education and insisted that each of us must do the best that we could. They taught us right from wrong by their positive example and reinforced that message with appropriate discipline. I see children in Court every day whose life experience is just the opposite. Their lives are filled with substance abuse and domestic violence. It is a function of our Courts to provide children who are abused or neglected a safe, permanent, loving home within a reasonable period of time in order to undo some of the devastating circumstances that have been thrust upon them at such an early age. If we don't accomplish this for our children now, our communities will suffer the consequences in the years to come."