Douglas McCullough
Encyclopedia
J. Douglas McCullough is an American
lawyer and judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals
.
in 1967 and a Juris Doctor
degree from the University of South Carolina
in 1970, McCullough served in the United States Marine Corps
, retiring as a Colonel
in the Marine Corps Reserves. McCullough worked as legislative counsel for New Mexico
Senator Harrison Schmitt
, as a counsel to the United States Senate
, and finally as an assistant United States Attorney
in the eastern district
of North Carolina
from 1981 through 1996, when he left to enter private practice.
In November 2000, McCullough was elected to the North Carolina Court of Appeals
with just over 50 percent of the vote, defeating incumbent Clarence Horton.
On October 7, 2006, McCullough was charged with drunk driving
. He pleaded guilty
to driving while impaired on April 3, 2007.
(a Democrat) and I. Beverly Lake, Jr. (a Republican). He also enjoyed support from former North Carolina Court of Appeals Judges S. Gerald Arnold
, Sidney S. Eagles, K. Edward Greene, and Albert S. Thomas, Jr.
McCullough was criticized in 2007 for implying that he and other incumbent Republican incumbents should be re-elected because they would favor Republicans in an anticipated lawsuit over redistricting
. An ethics complaint was filed against him as a result of his comments.
In response to the complaint, the state Judicial Standards Commission said it would not punish McCullough, but it also said that it had made "an effort to ensure such conduct is not repeated."
McCullough was defeated in the November 2008 election
by state District Court judge Cheri Beasley
.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals
North Carolina Court of Appeals
The North Carolina Court of Appeals is the only intermediate appellate court in the state of North Carolina. It is composed of fifteen members who sit in rotating groups of three...
.
Education and career
After earning a history degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
in 1967 and a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
in 1970, McCullough served in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, retiring as a Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the Marine Corps Reserves. McCullough worked as legislative counsel for New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
Senator Harrison Schmitt
Harrison Schmitt
Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt is an American geologist, a retired NASA astronaut, university professor, and a former U.S. senator from New Mexico....
, as a counsel to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, and finally as an assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
in the eastern district
United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina is the United States District Court that serves the eastern 44 counties in North Carolina. Appeals from the Eastern District of North Carolina are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit The...
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
from 1981 through 1996, when he left to enter private practice.
In November 2000, McCullough was elected to the North Carolina Court of Appeals
North Carolina Court of Appeals
The North Carolina Court of Appeals is the only intermediate appellate court in the state of North Carolina. It is composed of fifteen members who sit in rotating groups of three...
with just over 50 percent of the vote, defeating incumbent Clarence Horton.
Personal life
He is married to Lucci McCullough and has two children. He resides in Atlantic Beach, NC.On October 7, 2006, McCullough was charged with drunk driving
Drunk driving (United States)
Drunk driving is the act of operating and/or driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs to the degree that mental and motor skills are impaired...
. He pleaded guilty
Guilty
Guilty commonly refers to the feeling of guilt, an experience that occurs when a person believes that they have violated a moral standard.Guilty or The Guilty may also refer to:-Law:*Guilty plea, a formal admission of legal culpability...
to driving while impaired on April 3, 2007.
2008 Re-election Campaign
McCullough is a registered Republican, but in his 2008 bid for re-election, he cited bipartisan support from notables such as former NC Supreme Court Chief Justices Burley MitchellBurley Mitchell
Burley Mitchell, Jr. is an American jurist and former Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. At age 15, Mitchell dropped out of high school to join the United States Marine Corps, only to be kicked out when his age was discovered...
(a Democrat) and I. Beverly Lake, Jr. (a Republican). He also enjoyed support from former North Carolina Court of Appeals Judges S. Gerald Arnold
S. Gerald Arnold
S. Gerald Arnold is a North Carolina lawyer and jurist who served as a judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, including service as that court's Chief Judge ....
, Sidney S. Eagles, K. Edward Greene, and Albert S. Thomas, Jr.
McCullough was criticized in 2007 for implying that he and other incumbent Republican incumbents should be re-elected because they would favor Republicans in an anticipated lawsuit over redistricting
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
. An ethics complaint was filed against him as a result of his comments.
In response to the complaint, the state Judicial Standards Commission said it would not punish McCullough, but it also said that it had made "an effort to ensure such conduct is not repeated."
McCullough was defeated in the November 2008 election
North Carolina judicial elections, 2008
One justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court and six judges of the North Carolina Court of Appeals were elected to eight-year terms by North Carolina voters on November 4, 2008. This coincided with the presidential, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, gubernatorial, and Council of State elections.North...
by state District Court judge Cheri Beasley
Cheri Beasley
Cheri L. Beasley is a North Carolina lawyer and jurist who sits on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. She was elected to the court in 2008, defeating incumbent Douglas McCullough...
.
2010 election
McCullough won a new term on the Court of Appeals in 2010, when he came in second in the first round, but won the second round, of the first use of instant runoff voting for a statewide election in North Carolina. He narrowly defeated appointed incumbent Judge Cressie ThigpenCressie Thigpen
Cressie H. Thigpen, Jr. is a North Carolina lawyer and jurist who was appointed to a seat on the North Carolina Court of Appeals in August 2010. Governor Bev Perdue appointed Thigpen to replace Judge James A. Wynn, who had been appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals...
.