Russell D. Babb

Russell D. Babb

Raleigh, NC recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2018
Tharrington Smith LLP

20 Best Lawyers awards

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Awarded Practice Areas

Criminal Defense: General Practice Criminal Defense: White-Collar
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Raleigh.

Biography

Russell D. Babb was born in Wilson, North Carolina. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead Scholar and co-captain of the 1995 Carolina football team. A four-year starter as an offensive lineman for the Tar Heels, Mr. Babb was also the winner of the 1995 Jim Tatum Award, which is presented each year to the top Senior Scholar-Athlete in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

After college, Mr. Babb entered the University of North Carolina School of Law. During law school, he participated in the UNC Criminal Law Clinic and served as president of the Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity. After receiving his law degree in 1999, Mr. Babb practiced civil litigation for several years before changing his focus to criminal defense.

In 2014, Mr. Babb was elected to a three year position on the Wake County Bar Association Board of Directors and served on the Wake County Bar’s Strategic Planning Committee, tasked with helping the WCBA and Tenth Judicial District set its goals and visions for the coming years. He has been selected to the 10th Judicial District Grievance Committee beginning 2018. In 2015, Mr. Babb was inducted into the Fellowship of the American Bar Foundation.

Mr. Babb most recently worked as an Assistant Public Defender in Wake County, and has represented criminal defendants at all levels of state court in North Carolina. He has also defended clients in federal court and is admitted to practice in the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Mr. Babb is a member of the Wake County Bar Association, the Wake County Academy of Criminal Trial Lawyers, the North Carolina Bar Association, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the American Bar Association, and the American Association for Justice.

Tharrington Smith LLP

20 Best Lawyers awards

Tharrington Smith LLP logo

Overview

  • English

  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, J.D., graduated 1999

  • North Carolina, 1999

  • 10th Judicial District Bar, 1999 - Member
  • American Association for Justice, until 2017 - Member
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - Member
  • North Carolina Advocates for Justice - Member
  • North Carolina Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section - Member
  • U.S. District Court of Eastern District of NC - Member
  • U.S. District Court of Middle District of NC - Member
  • U.S. District Court of Western District of NC - Member
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit - Member
  • Wake County Academy of Criminal Trial Lawyers - Member
  • Wake County Bar Association, 1999 - Member
  • English
  • North Carolina, 1999
  • 10th Judicial District Bar, 1999 - Member
  • American Association for Justice, until 2017 - Member
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - Member
  • North Carolina Advocates for Justice - Member
  • North Carolina Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section - Member
  • U.S. District Court of Eastern District of NC - Member
  • U.S. District Court of Middle District of NC - Member
  • U.S. District Court of Western District of NC - Member
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit - Member
  • Wake County Academy of Criminal Trial Lawyers - Member
  • Wake County Bar Association, 1999 - Member
  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, J.D., graduated 1999

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2026 - Criminal Defense: General Practice
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice, Raleigh (2026)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • DUI / DWI Defense
Awards:
  • Recognized by Business North Carolina Legal Elite, 2012, 2015 - 2017
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation, 2016
  • AV Preeminent Peer Reviewed Lawyer, Martindale Hubbell, since 2016
  • Best Lawyers in America, Criminal Defense General Practice Section, 2018

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