Winston Salem Times

Mayor Allen Joines and the City Council have announced Camille French as the new City Attorney for Winston-Salem, effective December 31, 2024. French will take over from Angela Carmon, who is set to retire at the end of this year.

The selection process involved a collaboration with Developmental Associates, a Chapel Hill firm that assisted in screening and selecting candidates. The search was national, resulting in seventeen applications being reviewed by the City Council. Finalists participated in interviews and an intensive assessment center. French's extensive experience in law and familiarity with Winston-Salem distinguished her among the applicants.

French has been serving as the senior assistant city attorney since 2022 after initially joining as an assistant city attorney in 2018, primarily serving the Human Resources Department. Her previous roles include positions at Allegacy Federal Credit Union and a private law firm in Virginia.

In her current capacity, she is also the city's officer of ethics and privacy and acts as a legal liaison for various city departments. She holds memberships with both North Carolina and Virginia state bars, along with associations such as Forsyth County Bar Association, Winston-Salem Bar Association, and Fourth Circuit of the federal bar.

French holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University and a juris doctorate from University of South Carolina School of Law. On her appointment, French expressed gratitude: “I am truly honored and humbled that the Winston-Salem City Council has chosen me to serve in this role.”

Mayor Joines praised French's qualifications: “The Council and I are delighted to have selected Camille French as the new City Attorney for the City of Winston Salem,” he said. He emphasized her skills and knowledge of city government as key factors in their decision.