I. Beverly Lake
Encyclopedia
I. Beverly Lake, Jr. is an American
jurist and public official, who served as chief justice
of the North Carolina Supreme Court
.
Born in Raleigh, North Carolina
, he is the son of I. Beverly Lake Sr.
and Gertrude Bell Lake. He was raised in Wake Forest, North Carolina
and earned the rank of Eagle Scout
as a youth. He received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
as an adult. Lake also served briefly in the United States Army
from 1956 to 1958.
After he earned his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law
in 1960, he entered into several private practices. Between 1969 and 1976, Lake served as a deputy attorney general for the state of North Carolina
. After serving two terms in the North Carolina General Assembly
as a Democratic
state Senator, Lake switched parties in 1980. He then ran as the unsuccessful Republican
nominee against incumbent Governor Jim Hunt
.
After Republican James G. Martin
was elected governor in 1984, Lake served briefly as Martin's legislative liaison before he was appointed to the state Superior Court in November 1985. Lake ran for the North Carolina Supreme Court
in 1990 but lost to incumbent John Webb
. Martin appointed Lake to the Supreme Court in 1992, but he was defeated for election that same year. Lake was elected to a regular term as an associate justice on the court in 1994, and was elected the court's chief justice in 2000, defeating incumbent Henry Frye
. By North Carolina law, he had to step down in 2006, after his 72nd birthday. He was succeeded by then-Associate Justice Sarah Parker
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jurist and public official, who served as chief justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the North Carolina Supreme Court
North Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists of six associate justices and one chief justice, although the number of justices...
.
Born in Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, he is the son of I. Beverly Lake Sr.
I. Beverly Lake Sr.
Isaac Beverly "Bev" Lake Sr. , was a North Carolina jurist, law professor at Wake Forest University and Campbell University, and politician. He was born in Wake Forest, North Carolina.-Early Government Career:...
and Gertrude Bell Lake. He was raised in Wake Forest, North Carolina
Wake Forest, North Carolina
Wake Forest is a town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake County in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is located just north of the state capital, Raleigh. The population was 12,588 at the 2000 census. In 2009, the estimated population was 27,915...
and earned the rank of Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
as a youth. He received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is a distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America . It is awarded to an Eagle Scout for distinguished service in his profession and to his community for a period of at least 25 years after attaining the level of Eagle Scout...
as an adult. Lake also served briefly in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1956 to 1958.
After he earned his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law
Wake Forest University School of Law
The Wake Forest University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of Wake Forest University. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wake Forest University School of Law is a private American Bar Association accredited law school and is a member of the Association of American...
in 1960, he entered into several private practices. Between 1969 and 1976, Lake served as a deputy attorney general for the state 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...
. After serving two terms in the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
as a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
state Senator, Lake switched parties in 1980. He then ran as the unsuccessful Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee against incumbent Governor Jim Hunt
Jim Hunt
James Baxter Hunt Jr. is an American politician who was the 69th and 71st Governor of the state of North Carolina . He is the longest-serving governor in the state's history.-Early life:...
.
After Republican James G. Martin
James G. Martin
James Grubbs "Jim" Martin is the 70th Governor of the state of North Carolina. He served from 1985 to 1993. He was the second Republican elected to the office after Reconstruction, and the fifth overall. He is also the only Republican to serve two full terms as governor.-Early Life &...
was elected governor in 1984, Lake served briefly as Martin's legislative liaison before he was appointed to the state Superior Court in November 1985. Lake ran for the North Carolina Supreme Court
North Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists of six associate justices and one chief justice, although the number of justices...
in 1990 but lost to incumbent John Webb
John Webb (jurist)
John Webb was an American jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court...
. Martin appointed Lake to the Supreme Court in 1992, but he was defeated for election that same year. Lake was elected to a regular term as an associate justice on the court in 1994, and was elected the court's chief justice in 2000, defeating incumbent Henry Frye
Henry Frye
Henry E. Frye is an American judge and politician who concluded his public-service career as the first African-American chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.He was born August 1, 1932 in Richmond County, North Carolina...
. By North Carolina law, he had to step down in 2006, after his 72nd birthday. He was succeeded by then-Associate Justice Sarah Parker
Sarah Parker
Sarah Parker is an American judge, currently the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.-Education and career:...
.