Mecklenburg County, North Carolina – After spending nearly four years in jail, Julius Bishop, 49, has been found guilty in a 2021 domestic violence case involving his former partner, Ashley Blackwell, a magistrate in Mecklenburg County. Though convicted, Bishop has now walked free, having been granted credit for time already served.
The jury convicted Bishop of assault on a female, assault by strangulation, communicating threats, and violating a protective order. He was acquitted of stalking. His attorney, Samuel Randall, has confirmed an appeal will be filed.
From Relationship to Legal Battle
The case stemmed from a July 2021 incident in which Bishop allegedly assaulted Blackwell during an argument at their shared residence. Once a couple talking about starting a family, their relationship turned violent during a heated confrontation.
Bishop was arrested and held on a $100,000 bond, which he was unable to pay. He spent 1,328 days in jail awaiting trial. During this time, Bishop insisted the charges were false and that he was being set up by Blackwell, whom he accused of misusing her position as a magistrate to destroy him.
What the Jury Saw
The prosecution presented home security footage, which showed Bishop hitting Blackwell with a phone, dragging her by her clothes, throwing items at her, and choking her multiple times while threatening her. The video became central to the case.
At one point, Bishop was heard yelling:
“When you [expletive] with the devil, you get the devil.”
He was also accused of sending a topless photo of Blackwell without consent to a coworker, and of returning to the home in violation of a protective order obtained the day after the assault.
Claims of Corruption and Bias
Throughout the case, Bishop claimed he was falsely accused and framed by a powerful ex-girlfriend. Before his arrest, he even told a 911 dispatcher:
“A magistrate is going to set me up.”
Bishop’s story gained attention when he gave an interview from jail to WBTV in early 2025. He also wrote multiple letters to the court, claiming his rights were violated.
His credibility was further supported by a 2023 complaint from another magistrate, Cheryl Ivery, who claimed that Blackwell admitted Bishop initially had not hurt her. The complaint also alleged she used her connections with a top judge, Elizabeth Trosch, to influence the legal process.
Judge Trosch eventually recused herself, but not before granting the protective order against Bishop.
The Defense and the Verdict
Defense attorney Samuel Randall acknowledged that the video clearly showed abuse, stating:
“I’m not here to sell you that his actions were reasonable. He assaulted the crap out of her.”
However, he urged the jury to focus on specific charges like stalking and strangulation, arguing that the case was selectively built using Blackwell’s legal expertise.
In the end, the jury acquitted him of stalking, but found him guilty on all other charges. Bishop was released under supervision the same day.
Not the End of the Story
Although Bishop is now free, the case is far from over. His legal team is preparing to challenge the conviction in the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Bishop, reflecting on his time behind bars, said:
“I’ve been here for three years. I’ve lost eight family members that I should have buried in the ground.”
With his release, a painful chapter ends — but a new one begins in the appellate courts, where claims of injustice, misuse of power, and legal integrity will face further scrutiny.