Meet Merritt Wagoner, Your Criminal Defense Attorney
Merritt Wagoner is a criminal defense attorney who has defended people in North Carolina for more than 21 years. He works in state court in New Hanover County and Pender County, and in federal court in the Eastern District of North Carolina, where he is admitted. If you are facing charges, his job is simple. He stands between you and the system and tells you, in plain language, where you stand and what to do next.
Who Merritt is, and how he guides you
You are facing this for the first time. Merritt has stood in these courtrooms for more than 21 years. That gap is the whole point. When you do not know what comes next, who makes the decisions, or what the prosecutor is after, those questions can keep you up at night. Most people around you cannot answer them.
Merritt can. He has represented people in your position many times, and the first thing he does is take the weight of the unknown off you. He explains what is actually happening and tells you what your real options are. Not a script, and not false comfort.
Your case is yours. Merritt's role is to be the steady guide beside you: honest about the hard parts, clear about the path, and reachable when you need him.
His experience in state and federal court
Merritt works in two court systems and knows both. In state court, he appears in New Hanover County and Pender County, in front of the same judges and prosecutors most weeks of the year. In federal court, he is admitted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, where many local attorneys do not practice.
That matters because the two systems run on different rules, and the stakes and procedures are not the same. Knowing how a case tends to move in each room means Merritt can tell you how yours is likely to proceed, based on the courts where it will actually be decided.
He defends a wide range of charges, from DWI and drug cases to domestic violence matters and serious felonies, in both systems. If you are unsure whether your charge is something he handles, the fastest answer is to call and ask.
How he works with you
From your first contact, you will know where your case stands and what is coming next. Merritt reviews the discovery, looks closely at how the evidence was gathered, files the motions that need filing, and explains his strategy in language you can follow.
He negotiates when that serves you and prepares for trial when it does not. The point is that you are never left guessing about your own case, and you are never doing this alone.
When you reach out, you can call or text 910-218-9669, or book a consultation on the booking page. Reaching out is the first step toward a plan. It does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship; that begins once Merritt has reviewed your situation and you have agreed to work together.
Verifiable experience you can check
21+ years in NC courtrooms
More than two decades of criminal defense experience in North Carolina, so the questions that feel new to you are familiar ground for Merritt.
Member, State Bar of North Carolina (Bar No. 32978)
A licensed North Carolina attorney in good standing, which you can verify independently through the State Bar.
Admitted in federal court, including the Eastern District of NC
Admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (2005), the Western District of North Carolina (2012), and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (2005), so he can defend you in federal court, where many local attorneys do not appear.
State and federal court experience
Regular practice in New Hanover and Pender County state courts and in federal court means Merritt can guide you in whichever system your case lands.
Education
J.D., cum laude, Thomas Jefferson School of Law (2004), and a B.S. from Colorado State University (1998).
Questions about working with Merritt
How long has Merritt Wagoner been practicing criminal defense?
What courts does Merritt practice in?
Is Merritt licensed and in good standing?
What happens when I call after office hours?
Tell Merritt what is going on.
The first step is a conversation. Reach out by phone, text, or by booking a consultation, and get a clear read on where you stand.
The line is answered 24/7 by Karen, an AI assistant who schedules appointments and takes messages. She does not transfer calls or give legal advice or fee quotes.