North Carolina judicial news

From Judgepedia

News about or affecting the judiciary in North Carolina.

Longtime Superior Court judge retires suddenly

North Carolina: Superior Court Judge Robert P. Johnston retired from the North Carolina 26th Judicial District on January 12, 2010. He had served on the court for 28 years.^[1]

Two new candidates for 2nd Judicial District

Washington County, North Carolina: Two local attorneys, Watsi Sutton and Sonia Privette, announced their candidacy for a position on the North Carolina 2nd Judicial District. They will be competing for the seat of Samuel G. Grimes, who plans to retire at the end of his term. The top two candidates (if more candidates file for the position) from the May 4, 2010 primary will advance to the November 2nd general election.^[1]

Senator joins District Court race

North Carolina: State Senator Julia Boseman announced that she plans to run for a seat on the North Carolina 5th Judicial District. Boseman will be leaving the Senate at the end of the year. Chad Hogston, a local attorney, is also seeking the judgeship. If no more candidates file for the position, a primary election will not be needed and the winner will be determined in the November 2010 general election. ^[1]

New bankruptcy judge in North Carolina

North Carolina: Stephanie W. Humrickhouse took office as the new judge for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina on January 6, 2010. She replaced retired judge A. Thomas Small.^[1]

Superior court judges recommended to Obama

North Carolina: Democratic Senator Kay Hagan has submitted recommendations to President Obama for a judgeship on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Two of her nominees are Superior Court judges in North Carolina: Quentin Sumner and Allen Cobb. The third is Jennifer May-Parker, assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District handing criminal appellate cases.

Hagan also submitted three nominees for the Middle District of North Carolina. These are: Superior Court judges Catherine Eagles and Edwin Wilson, and Anita Earls, executive director for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice in Durham. ^[1]

Superior court rotation suspended due to budget constraints

North Carolina: The standard rotation of Superior Court judges was suspended by Supreme Court Chief Justice Sarah Parker due to the state's current budget crisis. Rotation will cease effective Monday, July 20th, and continue through Friday, August 28th. ^{[1] [2]}

The rotation system is intended to avoid the favoritism that might result from having a permanent judge in one district. Normally Superior Court judges would rotate among the districts within their division every six months. ^[3]

Articles: Overview

North Carolina begins judicial election reforms (May 12, 2004)

Record amounts of money are pouring into state judicial elections, raising concerns that special interests are gaining influence and undermining the impartiality of some of the states' highest courts. In November, state supreme court seats will be filled by voters in 29 of the 38 states that elect their justices. Predictions are that candidates will raise and spend campaign money at an even greater rate to land seats on state high courts than the record almost $29 million spent in 2002. North Carolina is one state that has begun reforming its judicial elections. This year, it launches the nation's first public financing program for judicial elections. Its law also makes judicial elections non-partisan and provides for an information guide to acquaint voters with judicial candidates, who often are less well known than candidates for legislative or executive posts.

North Carolina's public financing program is funded through donations from lawyers and a voluntary $3 check-off on the state's income tax forms. Legislators and reformers in a host of other states are keeping an eye on North Carolina's program during its test run in November.^[1]

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