First American Indian district attorney sworn in

Drum beats, prayers and applause Thursday night filled the Givens Performing Arts Center at the University of North Carolina-Pembroke as Robeson County’s first American Indian district attorney was sworn in.

Matthew Scott took his oath of office surrounded by his family and friends.

“This is bigger than just me. This is bigger than the district attorney’s office. This is about all of us. We are all connected — no matter where you live and what community you live in Robeson County, we are all Robesonians,” he said .

Members of the Lumbee Tribe also congratulated Scott.

“I feel like we're making progress with all people through diversity,” said Harvey Godwin Jr. chairman of the Lumbee Tribe, following the ceremony. “It’s important in Robeson County that all people are represented in the legal system, so we’ve come a long way."

Brooke Clark, Robeson County district court judge, who swore in Scott, described him as being “like a brother."

“It’ll be awhile, Matt, before the significance of what you've done really sinks in, and eventually, you’ll start to realize as time passes when you hear that your story has been announced over the intercom at an elementary school to celebrate Native American Heritage Month or when a parent approaches you … or when someone approaches you and says, ‘because of you I know that I can achieve my goals',’’ Clark told Scott.

Scott said Robeson County has more than 100 pending murder investigations, more than 1,000 pending cases of driving while intoxicated and ranks top in the state in violent crime and property crime per capita.

Scott said addressing drug and alcohol addiction is a priority, along with lowering the crime rate.

He said he’s spoken with individuals in the past few weeks to ensure that, if legislation passes in the General Assembly, that Robeson County will be at the top of the list for drug court funding.

He also reached out to the U.S. District Attorney’s office to ensure someone is able to prosecute federal cases in Robeson County.

“When we started this campaign, it was on the belief that we could be better. It was on the belief that we could bring new solutions to old problems. ,” Scott said. “It started as an idea that incarceration is not the only solution to certain problems.”

Scott was raised in Robeson County and graduated from Purnell Swett High School.

He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from North Carolina State University and law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2002.

After graduating from law school, Scott joined the Army as a judge advocate and paratrooper stationed at Fort Bragg with the 18th Airborne Corps.

He also is a combat veteran who deployed to Iraq and has been awarded the Bronze Star.

He currently is a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve.

In 2010, he became an assistant district attorney with the Robeson County District Attorney’s Office and focused on prosecuting narcotic and violent crimes.

Scott also is a deacon at Berea Baptist Church, member of the Tri-Warriors triathlon group which promotes physical fitness within the community. He was recently appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper to the North Carolina Military Affairs Commission.

Scott has been married for 17 years and has two sons, Gabriel, 13, and Ethan, 10.

“When we went to law school I knew that Matt has a servant’s heart. He was always very interested in public service,” his wife Jessica Scott said after Thursday night’s ceremonies.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.