
About Marcus
Marcus is a native of Sumter, South Carolina. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Experimental Psychology from The University of South Carolina-Columbia and his Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University, School of Law in Durham, North Carolina. Marcus is licensed to practice law in all State and Federal Courts in North Carolina.
Marcus began his career in private practice handling civil, juvenile, and criminal matters in both the Triangle and Eastern North Carolina. He practiced as a Post-Conviction Attorney with North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services, Inc. in Raleigh, North Carolina. In 2013, Marcus joined the Guilford County Public Defender's Office where he practiced in both District and Superior Court, serving as a fierce advocate for his clients up until his appointment as a District Court Judge by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper in May of 2018. Marcus has extensive experience at the district court level in matters ranging from: general civil; domestic; abuse, neglect and dependency, juvenile delinquency, and criminal. As a Guilford County District Court Judge, Marcus has presided over matters in every district courtroom in Guilford County including: (1) criminal court; (2) family court; (3) juvenile delinquency court; (4) juvenile abuse, neglect, and dependency court; (5) general civil court; (6) domestic violence court; (7) and special proceedings. Judge Marcus A. Shields is the presiding Guilford County District Court Judge for: (1) Greensboro Juvenile Drug Treatment Court; (2) High Point Juvenile Drug Treatment Court; and (3) Greensboro Adult Mental Health Court.
Off the bench, Marcus is active in his community. He serves on the Greensboro Bar Association's Board of Directors; he is former President of the Guilford County Association of Black Lawyers; he is a member of the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers; he is a member of the Guilford Inn of Court; the Guilford County Democratic Party; a former member of the Reading Connections Board of Directors; and a host of other civic organizations. He is also a former adjunct law professor at Elon University, School of Law.
Marcus spends time volunteering in the community; feeding the less fortunate; giving back to local schools; and mentoring others. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family, friends, three dogs, and attending church at Providence Baptist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina.
"Experience, Integrity, Compassion"