North Carolina judicial news
From Judgepedia
News about or affecting the judiciary in North Carolina.
Eagles appointed to U.S. District Court
Greensboro, North Carolina: President Obama nominated Judge Catherine C. Eagles to the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina on March 10, 2010. Judge Eagles has served on the Guilford County Superior Court since 1993 and currently awaits confirmation by the Senate to her new federal post.[1]
Copeley seeks Court of Appeals position
Kinston, North Carolina: Leto Copeley has announced her candidacy for a judgeship on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. She currently works as a lawyer.[1]
Plemmons seeks 29A District Court judgeship
North Carolina: Brian K. Plemmons, an attorney in Marion, has filed to run for a position on the 29A Judicial District. He will compete this year against incumbent Tommy Davis.[1]
Study says women under-represented in nine state court systems
A study released by the National Institute on Money in State Politics in January 2010 concluded that "women and members of ethnic or racial minorities are underrepresented in a majority of state courts across the nation."[1]
The study took a look at the electoral fates of state-level candidates for judicial positions in 35 states, with a very focused look in 9 states (Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin) with a view to discovering whether their odds of winning office correlated with their:
- Ability to raise money
- Ethnicity, race or gender.[1]
Of the 154 candidates scrutinized in the study:
- 12% of the 154 state candidates were members of an ethnic or racial minority.
- 35% of the 154 candidates were women.[1]
North Carolina judicial candidates prepare for elections
Morganton, North Carolina: The following candidates have filed to run in the various North Carolina judicial races:
- Beth S. Dixon (incumbent) and Alan Smith[2][3]
- Superior Court: Robert C. Ervin, Beverly T. Beal - incumbents
- District Court: Robert M. Brady, C. Thomas Edwards, Sherri W. Elliott and Robert A. Mullinax Jr., L. Suzanne Owsley, Gregory R. Hayes, Amy R. Sigmon - incumbents[1]
- C. Randy Pool (incumbent)[4]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Morganton.com, "Contests shape up for judicial seats", February 22, 2010
- ↑ Salisbury Post.com, "Judge Dixon seeking third term", February 19, 2010
- ↑ Salisbury Post.com, "Smith files for district court judge seat", February 17, 2010
- ↑ McDowell News.com, "District Court judge seeks re-election", February 16, 2010
New Judge in 26th Judicial District
Charlotte, North Carolina: Karen Eady-Williams was appointed to the North Carolina 26th Judicial District by Gov. Perdue. She will finish the remaining three years of Bill Belk's term on this court. Prior to this appointment, she worked as vice president and assistant general counsel for Wachovia Corp.[1]
Ervin seeks re-election to 25th Judicial District position
Morganton, North Carolina: Judge Robert C. Ervin was recommended for appointment to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. However, he has decided to seek re-election to his current position as judge of the North Carolina 25th Judicial District in case the federal appointment falls through. He has served on the 25th District Court since January 3, 2003.[1]
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]
References
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The North Carolina Project on Judgepedia
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