Todd Lowder, left, was honored by Clerk of Court Ginger Efird Friday morning for his 20 years of service to the judicial branch in Stanly County. He was first appointed as a magistrate in Stanly on Dec. 23, 2002. He has been re-appointed as magistrate five times. He was designated the chief magistrate on Jan. 1, 2021, a designation he continues to maintain. According to the website for NCCourts, “Magistrates are judicial officers, recognized by the North Carolina constitution to perform numerous duties in both civil and criminal proceedings. They are often a person’s first contact with the Judicial Branch and make decisions in criminal proceedings that include conducting initial appearances, setting conditions of release and issuing warrants. Magistrates’ civil proceedings include hearing small claims cases, determining involuntary commitments and perform marriages.” (Contributed)