I can tell you they don't want Hardin !
and we all know Stephens.
If you search the N&O archives, you'll see that when Hardin was DA he was accused of Judge shopping and repeatedly going back to Hudson - almost exclusively - in high profile cases. And even other Judges are quoted as inferring that Hardin kept going back to Hudson BECAUSE he consistently ruled for the prosecution. There were multiple N&O articles - can't link - but they're in the arhives. A lawsuit was even brought in regard to this Judge-shopping which was essentially going back to Hudson repeatedly. The lawsuit was "settled" out of court. That Judiciary agreed to review the way cases were assigned, but it was very heated and Hardin and other Judges made Public statements on the case.
Hardin, as DA, said that he'd be an idiot NOT to utilize his option to schedule those cases where they have their best shot.
The article said plainly that North Carolina is the ONLY state in the country where Judge shopping is LEGAL.
CREDIT to JLS ,, he told me about the article(s).
So, if you read that article, you'll understand the Orlando Hudson shouldn't be chosen either.
So, what if their options are Hudson, Hardin, and Stephens?
That's BIG trouble ! But, I'm probably being too negative.
Mike, I read somewhere that Nifong tried his 300 felony cases in front of everyone but Hudson.