Meet Gabriel

“When a person enters a courtroom, it’s because they need help with the most important thing happening in their life.” When Gabriel Kussin heard Professor Joseph Kennedy say these words in a classroom at UNC Law nearly fifteen years ago, it crystalized a philosophy that would shape entire Gabriel’s legal career. As an attorney, Gabriel has dedicated his life to serving those who need help in their most desperate moments and treating every person in the courtroom with respect. Now, when the legal foundations that are meant to protect every person in our country are under direct assault, Gabriel believes it is time for bold and compassionate leadership for the District Court Bench. The people of Guilford County deserve a judge that not only listens and makes sure every voice is heard, but that promises to fight for the constitutional protections promised to all.

Gabriel was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina. From an early age, Gabriel was instilled with a passion for public service from his mother (a lifelong educator who fought for Puerto Rican justice in her Spanish Harlem neighborhood), his father (a critical care pulmonologist who travelled around the world to help treat patients in disaster zones and countries with limited medical resources), and his Jewish faith cultivated by attending Judea Reform Congregation in Durham for over twenty years.

Gabriel attended college at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, graduating in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. While at Brown, Gabriel served as the Chair of the College Democrats of Rhode Island—where he helped coordinate efforts across New England to support President Obama’s 2008 election campaign—and as a legislative intern in the Rhode Island General Assembly. As much as he loved his time in New England, Gabriel knew his place was back home in the South. After graduation, Gabriel returned to North Carolina to serve as a public-school teacher in Charlotte. Gabriel taught tenth grade English, then worked for two Latino advocacy organizations in both Charlotte and Durham respectively, as well as an afterschool program coordinator. In these roles, trying to find his true calling, Gabriel saw how much our judicial system profoundly impacts the day-to-day lives of North Carolinians. Because of this, Gabriel returned to school, graduating from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 2015. Gabriel participated in the Carolina Criminal Justice Reform Project, the UNC Civil Legal Assistance Clinic, and served on the Pro Bono Board all three years of law school. Working with clients, victims, and community stakeholders across North Carolina, Gabriel worked hard to give a voice to those that traditionally did not have one in our justice system.

After passing the North Carolina Bar Exam, Gabriel was offered an incredible opportunity that would change his life forever. Former Chief Public Defender Fred Lind hired Gabriel as an Assistant Public Defender at the Guilford County Public Defender’s Office in Greensboro in 2015, where he has been for the last ten and a half years.

Gabriel has tried countless cases in both District and Superior court in Greensboro and has represented thousands of clients charged with everything from trespassing to first degree murder and everything in between. In every case Gabriel not only zealously advocates for his clients but also champions an essential mantra: that every person’s truth deserves not just to be told but also valued.

Gabriel also serves as the Internship Coordinator for the Public Defender’s Office helping recruit and supervise aspiring law students to learn about the law and gain practical experience in the courtroom. Since 2024, Gabriel has also worked with law students as an adjunct professor at the Elon University School of Law. There, Gabriel helps teach The Criminal Law Lab, walking students through the criminal justice system by exploring every part of a case from arrest to trial.

Gabriel is a member of the Greensboro Bar Association, the Guilford County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, a member of Temple Emmanuel, as well as a member of the Gatekeepers: the Greensboro Gargoyles Hockey Fan Club.

Gabriel enjoys cooking, biking, watching his beloved Carolina Hurricanes, and spending time with his family, his wife Brittany, their two dogs, Goose and Fig, and two cats, Jazz and Lucetta.