51吃瓜网

Before Trey Allen '97 ever sat behind a judge鈥檚 bench, before he advised Marine Corps generals on legal matters or counseled North Carolina鈥檚 top judges, he was a young boy in Robeson County, lost in the pages of history books. Where some kids found adventure in Nintendo games, BMX tricks or basketball courts, Allen discovered his world in the public library on Chestnut Street in downtown Lumberton. He wasn鈥檛 just a bookworm 鈥� he was a scholar in the making. 鈥淚 spent a lot of time in the public library growing up,鈥� Allen said. 鈥淭hat was probably the genesis of my interest in law, my views on government and its role in society.鈥� While his peers tested their reflexes on video games, Allen exercised his intellect and imagination by devouring biographies of America鈥檚 founders, English monarchs and world leaders. That early love of history and governance would shape his life trajectory 鈥� from Chancellor Scholar at UNC Pembroke to Marine Corps judge advocate to his current seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court.

Small-Town Scholar to State Supreme Court Justice

Allen鈥檚 journey from rural Robeson County to the state鈥檚 highest court is a testament to the power of hard work, opportunity and service. He graduated first in his family to earn a college degree, attending UNC Pembroke on a full Chancellor鈥檚 Scholarship. Though initially drawn to academia, his time as student body president sparked a deeper interest in government and law. At UNC School of Law, Allen honed his legal acumen before commissioning as a judge advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps. He spent much of his time overseas, including a deployment to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, advising commanding generals on military justice and assisting fellow Marines with personal legal matters.

Returning stateside, Allen clerked for Supreme Court Justice Paul Newby (now chief justice) before practicing education law at Tharrington Smith. He left the firm to serve as an associate professor of public law and government at UNC Chapel Hill. Allen later became general counsel for the Administrative Office of the Courts, where he led a team providing legal guidance to 400 judges, clerks and magistrates across North Carolina. Now, at 50, Allen serves as an associate justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court, where he helps shape legal decisions that impact all 10 million state residents. 鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to serve on this court,鈥� Allen said. 鈥淲e issue decisions that affect millions of people. It鈥檚 a huge honor and responsibility.鈥� Sitting in the walnut-paneled courtroom of the historic Law and Justice Building, Allen reflects on the journey that brought him here 鈥� a journey rooted in the faith, family values and work ethic instilled in him from childhood.

A Foundation of Faith, Family and Hard Work

Born Curtis Hudson Allen III but better known as Trey, he was raised in the Littlefield community, where love of God, family and country was a guiding principle. His father, Curtis Hudson Allen II, served 30 years in the Air Force Reserves, reinforcing the importance of patriotism and service. His parents, though not college graduates themselves, instilled in him and his younger brother, Clinton, a deep respect for education.

Allen often reminds his own children of the sacrifices that paved the way for his success. 鈥淭he difference between my grandmother and me is not ability 鈥� it鈥檚 opportunity,鈥� he said, recalling how his grandmother, known for her brilliant mind, only had a sixth-grade education. Allen seized every opportunity. His time at 51吃瓜网 was marked by intellectual growth and leadership development.

鈥淚t was at 51吃瓜网 that I started to push myself intellectually,鈥� he said. 鈥淪everal professors and administrators took a personal interest in me 鈥� people like the late Dr. Charles Jenkins, Dr. Robert Schneider, Dr. Michael Hawthorn, Dr. Jeffery Geller and the late Dr. Tom Morley. Their mentorship shaped my path.鈥�

The Making of a Judge

Allen鈥檚 early exposure to government and leadership at 51吃瓜网 set the stage for his legal career. His work ethic, sharpened at 51吃瓜网 and tested in the Marine Corps, carried him through some of the most complex legal challenges in North Carolina.

51吃瓜网 set me up for success. The personal investment my professors made in me impacted my future in ways I can鈥檛 fully express

"The leadership opportunities I had there 鈥� I don鈥檛 know that I would have pursued them at another institution," Allen said.

Today, from his seat on the Supreme Court, he applies those same principles of service, integrity and lifelong learning to his role in shaping state law. All qualities that earned him the 2023 Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award. Away from the bench, Allen and his wife, Teryn, his high school sweetheart, are raising five children while supporting their interests in scouting, church activities and the arts. Though he no longer frequents public libraries, his passion for reading burns as deeply as ever. True to form, his go-to books remain biographies 鈥� his latest read: James Rosen鈥檚 bestseller 鈥淪calia: Rise to Greatness,鈥� is a detailed account of the life of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. At his core, Allen is still the young boy at the library, flipping through pages, seeking knowledge and finding new ways to serve. 鈥淚鈥檝e always believed in the power of history,鈥� Allen said. 鈥淎nd in many ways, the people who came before us 鈥� our nation鈥檚 founders, the great legal minds 鈥� still have something to teach us.鈥�