[1] Born in Durham, North Carolina, Martin earned an undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University in 1965 and his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1967.
Martin served one term on the city council of Durham before becoming a North Carolina Superior Court judge in 1977 by appointment of Governor Jim Hunt.
[5] Judge Martin received the North Carolina Bar Association's highest honor, the John J. Parker Memorial Award, in 2013.
[6] He was elected president of the Council of Chief Judges of the State Courts of Appeal for the year 2013-2014.
[7] Upon his retirement, Martin was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Pat McCrory.