Carma Locklear Henson was elected president of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice this summer. She is the first Lumbee to lead the nonprofit that supports attorneys and their clients.
Locklear Henson grew up in Pembroke and Wake County, where she attended St. Mary’s School. She earned a bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a partner at Henson Fuerst, a law firm that specializes in personal injury cases.
The Border Belt Independent spoke to Locklear Henson about her new role, federal recognition for the Lumbee tribe and her passion for advocating for elderly residents.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How is your new role with the North Carolina Advocates for Justice going so far?
We provide state trial aid and resources to lawyers to give them the ability to better work with their clients like human beings. We work and represent the people.
Things have been easy now but they’re about to get busy and underway in September. We’ve got some programs focused on advocating to the legislature, and basically making sure bad things aren’t happening there and following bills down the pipeline.
That’s our goal right now, to keep doing the good work that we’re doing and extend that in all these different ways, so that lawyers, particularly in communities like Robeson County, have access to support and resources. Larger areas like Wake or Meckenberg might have more or better resources, and it’s our job to make sure those opportunities are equitable.
I also personally love mentoring young people and young lawyers and making sure people and young lawyers who are disadvantaged have the tools to succeed.
You’re the first member of the Lumbee tribe to serve as NCAJ president. What does that mean for you?
I am the first, and that’s definitely something I’m very proud of. My grandparents were farmers. We come from families that didn’t grow up well-to-do. They grew up in much of the same circumstances of what you see in Robeson County. But they were determined and worked hard, and did what they had to do to make progress.
They were determined to get ahead and make sure their kids got the education they needed to get ahead. We’ve seen that same story and circumstances where you have to figure out how to move forward and do the hard work that needs to be done, and I’m really proud to be a Lumbee Indian. We’re a small group, but we are ferocious and determined people.
Following a directive from President Donald Trump, the Department of the Interior told the Lumbee to continue lobbying Congress for full federal recognition, which the tribe has been seeking for more than a century. What are your thoughts on that recommendation?
I wish the North Carolina Advocates for Justice could have been part of these conversations, but the U.S. Congress is completely outside of our scope.
That said, Carma Henson strongly supports the Lumbee tribe receiving the federal recognition and benefits we’ve been fighting for and absolutely deserve. Federal recognition is essential for us to access the care and opportunities our community needs.
How does your organization support lawyers throughout the state?
We aim to empower lawyers to represent their clients, especially those clients who may be facing discrimination or navigating challenges, whether as a criminal defendant, in a civil rights matter, in a personal injury or workers’ compensation matter, by giving them the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed and serve their communities effectively.
One of the biggest barriers is access. That’s where we come in. We provide access to training, mentorship and opportunities through programs like the NEXT Leadership Program, which we’ve been running for several years. We send lawyers through this program to help them grow and take on leadership roles—not just within the legal field, but in their communities as well.
That’s how I see our role at NCAJ: to provide resources, training, and a strong support network to help lawyers lead and serve.
Much of your experience as a lawyer has revolved around nursing home abuse cases, and you chair the American Association for Justice Nursing Home Litigation Group. Why are you interested in advocating for the elderly?
That’s a big question. I started my legal career handling a variety of personal injury cases, things like car accidents and other injury-related cases. Over time, my focus shifted. My law partner at the time took on a nursing home neglect case, and I started working with him on it. That experience completely changed the course of my practice. From then on, I’ve focused almost exclusively on elder law and nursing home abuse and neglect cases.
What we see in this field is often heartbreaking. We’re dealing with some of the most vulnerable people in our society and our elders. Many of them have spent their lives serving our country, working their fingers to the bone, raising families. And now, in their time of need, they’re being neglected or even abused. Meanwhile, some of these large corporate owners are living in luxury, spending more money on lawyers and PR than on providing proper care to residents. That really struck a nerve with me and has stayed with me ever since.
I truly believe that every human being, regardless of who they are or where they come from, deserves dignity and respect. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a U.S. citizen or not. You have the right to be treated humanely, and when that doesn’t happen, someone needs to stand up and fight for you. I’ve made it my job to be that person.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated which members of her family were farmers. A previous version also misstated the role of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice.
