About Fred M.
Fred M. Morelock’s legal career stretches back to the mid-1970s. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in Arts and Law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1974 and earned his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1976. Those credentials set the stage for decades practicing and serving within North Carolina’s court system.
He began work as a trial lawyer in 1976, taking cases in both criminal and family law. Courtroom work became a constant early on. A decade later he moved onto the bench. In 1986 he served as a District Court Judge in the 10th Judicial District, presiding over matters that ranged from routine dockets to contested family law hearings.
Following his time on the bench, Morelock returned to private practice and assumed leadership roles at his firm. He became a partner at Tharrington Smith, LLP in 2001. He has also taken on assignments outside the firm. In 2010 he served as Independent Counsel to the North Carolina Medical Board, handling investigative and disciplinary matters. Since 2014 he has been Vice-Chair of the State Bar Council Disciplinary Hearing Commission, a post that has involved adjudicating professional conduct issues for the bar.
Morelock’s professional life includes steady involvement in bar and court organizations. He maintains membership in the North Carolina Bar Association and its Family Law and Dispute Resolution sections. He sits on the Wake County Bar Association Board of Directors and has participated on its Professionalism Committee. He has served as past-chair of the 10th Judicial District Bar Grievance Committee. He also holds memberships tied to the state and federal bench, including the North Carolina state courts, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and the North Carolina District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. Records show he has held bar membership since 1976.
Throughout his career Morelock has balanced trial practice with administrative and disciplinary work. He has handled criminal defense and family law cases at trial, and he has addressed professional discipline from both the counsel and adjudicator positions. The combination of courtroom years, judgeship experience, and service on disciplinary panels shapes how he approaches cases today. He currently practices at Tharrington Smith, LLP, focusing on criminal defense and family law matters.
