Local elections alert: NC State Supreme Court in balance

The Federalist Society ^ | October 28, 2008 | Joshua Davey

[M203M4]

The 2008 election campaigns are in full force in North Carolina. The airwaves abound with advertisements for President, Governor, United States Senate, and various other state offices. Amidst all of the media attention devoted to these important executive and legislative positions, it is easy to forget about the third branch in our state democratic system—the judiciary. Unlike their federal counterparts on the United States Supreme Court, who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, North Carolina Supreme Court Justices are elected. On November 4, 2008, North Carolina voters will elect one Justice to an eight year term on the North Carolina Supreme Court. Moreover, because North Carolina Supreme Court elections became non-partisan in 2002, North Carolina voters will elect the next state supreme court Justice without political party affiliations of the judicial candidates on the ballot.

[M203M4]

NC elects its judges. Currently, the NC Supreme Court has 5 Republicans and 4 Democrats (though the affiliations are now "unofficial"). This year, one of the Republicans faces reelection. The balance of the court will be decided next week.

The link above leads to a PDF file of some recent case history in the NC SC.

Take this as an all hands call for NC freepers and all other interested parties.

Held on Monday October 27th was the North Carolina Supreme Court Judicial Candidate Forum. It Featured:

Justice Robert Edmunds, North Carolina Supreme Court, candidate for reelection on November 4th.

Prof. Suzanne Reynolds, Professor of Law, Wake Forest University, candidate for election on November 4th.

And was moderated by Justice Willis Whichard, Former Associate Justice, North Carolina Supreme Court.

It was not that informative. They pretty much steered clear of controversy, and it was a mush fest about what book you would bring with you if you survived a nuclear holocaust and such. Disappointing, especially considering the FEDERALIST SOCIETY hosted the event.

Despite the fact that elections have gone "non-partisan" this year, one can obviously draw a correspondence between the Democrat and Republican-aligned justices; Edmunds is the (incumbent) Republican, Reynolds is the Democrat. PARTY AFFILIATION WILL NOT APPEAR ON THE BALLOT. This can hurt us or it can help us, depending upon how we want to play our cards.

Reynolds has no experience as a judge, has not held private practice for years (and when she did, it was in civil litigation), and has lectured at Wake Forest University for the last 27 years on family law. She has been enthusiastically endorsed by the Trial Lawyers.

Edmunds is a former N.C. Court of Appeals judge and a former federal prosecutor. He has spent his career showing no mercy in applying the law to put the worst of the worst away and/or keeping them there.

Edmunds: "I'm the one person standing between you and one-party government in North Carolina." Democrats control both the legislature and the governorship.


Their respective websites are: http://reelectjusticeedmunds.com/ for Edmunds, and

http://www.suzannereynolds.org/ for Reynolds.

Judge Edmunds is endorsed by his eight SC colleagues, four former chief justices of the NC Supreme Court, five senators, the three largest statewide police organizations, and by the following North Carolina Sheriffs.

Professor Reynolds is endorsed by the Trial Lawyers Association, North Carolina Association of Educators, North Carolina Advocates For Justice (a Trial Lawyers, Personal injury, and criminal defense group), Durham People's Alliance (Social and Economic Justice - Affordable Housing - Green Environment), and the National Association of Social Workers.

Yeah, in every other year there would be no worries about this one. If you want to get involved, the good judge is looking for some support. Rumors of an emergency support fund to buy last-minute airtime to combat the Democrat advertising for Professor Reynolds are floating about - if you have anything concrete, please post!

[callisto]

"Local elections alert: NC State Supreme Court in balance"

NC elects its judges. Currently, the NC Supreme Court has 5 Republicans and 4 Democrats (though the affiliations are now "unofficial"). This year, one of the Republicans faces reelection. The balance of the court will be decided next week.

NC *ping* please?

[CriticalJ]

Good post.

The other day, I heard an add for Reynolds. The add talked about her 27 years as a professor at Wake. As soon as I heard that, I told my wife “There is no way in hell I’d vote for her. Way too much time in academics and not enough in real life.”

You confirmed my suspicion.

[srmorton]

I voted for him yesterday. I made sure that I checked the NC Republican Party's website to see which judges they were endorsing.

BTW, one of the many county sheriffs who are endorsing him is Sheriff Ed Brown, Democrat, of Onslow County. Ed is very conservative and should really be a Republican but he is a member of the Democratic Party because Onslow County used to be solidly Democrat. I always vote for him because he is a good Christian man who always stands up for what he believes. A lot of liberals in town do not like him because he does not hide his Christian faith, though he is careful not to use it inappropriately.

[callisto]

CD: Can you assist with a NC *ping* to this thread?

"Local elections alert: NC State Supreme Court in balance"

NC elects its judges. Currently, the NC Supreme Court has 5 Republicans and 4 Democrats (though the affiliations are now "unofficial"). This year, one of the Republicans faces reelection. The balance of the court will be decided next week.

[csmusaret]

There is a guide at this link from a very conservative and informed source...http://tara.wbt.com/page.cfm;jsessionid=2a306176673d7a65c1be355c4d7473154966?ID=9

[Constitution Day]

(In MitchellC's absence, I am pinging the NC list. My list is out of date, so I offer my apologies if you're no longer supposed to be on it!)

NC *Ping*

Please FRmail MitchellC if you want to be added to or removed from this North Carolina ping list.

[BelegStrongbow]

Indeed. All I had to do was google the names. Interestingly, I was instantly able to get useful and conclusive information about the Republicans running but was able at best only to get fluff pieces or self-promotion for the Democrats.

Register three votes from this household for a solid Republican slate of judges.

[MitchellC]

NC *Ping*

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