Judge Griffin was born and raised on a farm in Red Oak, NC, in Nash County. He graduated from Northern Nash High School where he was captain of the football team.

Judge Griffin graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2003. After graduating from UNC, Judge Griffin earned his United States Coast Guard Captain’s license and worked as a charter fisherman on the North Carolina coast.

In 2008, Judge Griffin graduated from North Carolina Central School of Law. He began practicing law in Kinston, NC, focusing in civil litigation and criminal defense litigation.

In 2010, Judge Griffin joined the Wake County District Attorney’s Office where he prosecuted cases from infractions to murder over a five-year period.

In 2015, Jefferson was appointed by Governor McCrory to be a District Court Judge in Wake County. Judge Griffin was elected to a four-year term in the 2016 general election to retain his seat on the District Court bench in Wake County. He served there until his election to the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

Judge Griffin also serves as a Captain in the North Carolina Army National Guard. Judge Griffin is assigned to the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT), known as “Old Hickory”. He serves as the National Security Law Judge Advocate. Judge Griffin was mobilized deployed to the Middle East with the 30th ABCT in 2019-2020 in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve.

Judge Griffin is an avid hunter, fisherman and lover of the outdoors. He served on the Board of Directors of the Raleigh Kiwanis Club and the Board of Directors of the Wake County Bar Association. He also served as the president of Lenoir County Bar Association. He and his wife Katye are members at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Raleigh, NC.

Judge Griffin was elected statewide to an eight-year term on the North Carolina Court of Appeals in November of 2020.