Wynn makes history in new post

James Wynn Jr. is making history this month.

The N.C. Appeals Court judge began his tenure as chairman of the Judicial Division of the American Bar Association — making him the first ever African-American elected to the position, Titan Barksdale reports.

Association officials say the division, which has more than 4,000 members, is designed to help make the judicial system more understandable, accessible and affordable. As chairman, Wynn will have to help develop programs and initiatives for the division and manage a staff and a budget.

Wynn has nearly 20 years experience as an appellate judge in North Carolina,  joining the N.C. Supreme Court in 1998 to fill a vacancy. He returned to the N.C. Court of Appeals the next year, and remains on the bench as a senior associate judge.

Wynn’s tenure as chairman ends in August.