North Carolina judicial elections, 2008
Encyclopedia
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 Carolina judicial elections are non-partisan. Primary elections were held on May 6, 2008 for seats with more than two candidates running. The top two vote-getters in the primary, regardless of party affiliation, advanced to the general election.
Despite the non-partisan nature of the elections, candidates' party affiliations were well-known. As a result of the elections, the Republicans maintained their 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court. Democrats maintained their majority on the Court of Appeals. Only one Republican (Robert N. Hunter, Jr.) defeated a Democrat in a Court of Appeals race.
ran for re-election and was opposed by Professor Suzanne Reynolds
of Wake Forest University
Law School. Edmunds defeated Reynolds in the closest statewide judicial race of 2008.
, appointed in 2007, was opposed by former state Board of Elections chairman Robert N. Hunter, Jr.
ran for election, having been appointed in 2007. She was opposed by attorney Dan Barrett
.
was opposed by state District Court Judge Kristin Ruth
, former Wake County Clerk of Court Janet Pueschel, and state Utilities Commissioner Sam J. Ervin, IV
.
In the May 6 primary, Ervin led the field with 37 percent of the vote, followed by Ruth (26 percent), Tyson (22 percent), and Pueschel (16 percent). Ervin and Ruth advanced to the November general election.
was opposed by state District Court Judge Cheri Beasley
.
, the court's Chief Judge, ran for re-election unopposed.
Wynn and Farlow advanced to the November general election. Wynn won approximately 48 percent of the vote in the primary, followed by Farlow (37 percent) and Poirier (15 percent).
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...
and six judges 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...
were elected to eight-year terms by 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...
voters on November 4, 2008. This coincided with the presidential
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, U.S. Senate
United States Senate election in North Carolina, 2008
The 2008 United States Senate election in North Carolina was held on November 4, 2008. The Senate election coincided with the presidential, U.S. House elections, gubernatorial, Council of State, and statewide judicial elections. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole ran for re-election...
, U.S. House
United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina, 2008
The United States House of Representative elections of 2008 in North Carolina were held on 4 November 2008 as part of the biennial election to the United States House of Representatives. All thirteen seats in North Carolina, and 435 nation-wide, were elected to the 111th United States Congress...
, gubernatorial
North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2008
The North Carolina gubernatorial election of 2008 was held on November 4, 2008, coinciding with the presidential, U.S. Senate, U.S. House elections, Council of State, and statewide judicial elections...
, and Council of State elections.
North Carolina judicial elections are non-partisan. Primary elections were held on May 6, 2008 for seats with more than two candidates running. The top two vote-getters in the primary, regardless of party affiliation, advanced to the general election.
Despite the non-partisan nature of the elections, candidates' party affiliations were well-known. As a result of the elections, the Republicans maintained their 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court. Democrats maintained their majority on the Court of Appeals. Only one Republican (Robert N. Hunter, Jr.) defeated a Democrat in a Court of Appeals race.
Supreme Court (Edmunds seat)
Incumbent Robert H. Edmunds, Jr.Robert H. Edmunds, Jr.
Robert Holt Edmunds, Jr. is an American judge, currently an Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.Born in Danville, Virginia, Edmunds moved to Greensboro, North Carolina at the age of 8. He attended Woodberry Forest School and Williams College before graduating with honors from...
ran for re-election and was opposed by Professor Suzanne Reynolds
Suzanne Reynolds
Suzanne Reynolds is a law professor at Wake Forest University. In 2007, she announced her intention to run for the North Carolina Supreme Court seat held by incumbent Robert H. Edmunds, Jr. in the 2008 election. Reynolds lost to Edmunds by a narrow margin.Reynolds graduated with a bachelor's...
of Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
Law School. Edmunds defeated Reynolds in the closest statewide judicial race of 2008.
| Candidate | Popular Vote | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Robert H. (Bob) Edmunds | 1,562,453 | 51.02% |
| Suzanne Reynolds | 1,499,978 | 48.98% |
Court of Appeals (Arrowood seat)
Incumbent John S. ArrowoodJohn S. Arrowood
John S. Arrowood is an American attorney and judge who, in August 2007, was appointed to the North Carolina Court of Appeals by Governor Mike Easley, replacing Judge Eric L. Levinson, who had resigned to accept a federal appointment. He was defeated in the subsequent election by Judge Robert N...
, appointed in 2007, was opposed by former state Board of Elections chairman Robert N. Hunter, Jr.
Robert N. Hunter, Jr.
Robert Neal "Bob" Hunter, Jr. is a North Carolina lawyer and jurist who serves on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Hunter was elected to the court in 2008, defeating incument John S...
| Candidate | Popular Vote | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Robert N. (Bob) Hunter, Jr. | 1,529,583 | 53.68% |
| John S. Arrowood | 1,319,800 | 46.32% |
Court of Appeals (Stephens seat)
Incumbent Linda StephensLinda Stephens
Linda Stephens is an American judge, currently serving on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. She was first appointed to the Court of Appeals by Gov. Mike Easley in January 2006 and lost her seat in the general election of November 2006. Gov...
ran for election, having been appointed in 2007. She was opposed by attorney Dan Barrett
Dan Barrett (politician)
C. Daniel "Dan" Barrett is an attorney, legal author, and North Carolina political figure.Barrett unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor in the 2004 election...
.
| Candidate | Popular Vote | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Linda Stephens | 1,712,458 | 58.76% |
| Dan Barrett | 1,202,030 | 41.24% |
Court of Appeals (Tyson seat)
Incumbent John M. TysonJohn M. Tyson
John Marsh Tyson is an American judge, who currently serves as a Recall Judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals, after completing an eight-year statewide elected term, and as an Emergency Superior Court Judge. At Tyson & Associates, he practiced landlord-tenant, land use, and real property...
was opposed by state District Court Judge Kristin Ruth
Kristin Ruth
Kristin H. Ruth is a state district court judge in North Carolina, serving District 10 . Ruth was the senior partner in her law firm for seven years before being elected to the bench in 1998. She was re-elected to four-year terms in 2002 and in 2006...
, former Wake County Clerk of Court Janet Pueschel, and state Utilities Commissioner Sam J. Ervin, IV
Sam J. Ervin, IV
Samuel James "Jimmy" Ervin IV is a North Carolina lawyer and jurist who sits on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. He served as a state Utilities Commissioner before being elected to the court in 2008. He is the grandson of U.S. Sen...
.
In the May 6 primary, Ervin led the field with 37 percent of the vote, followed by Ruth (26 percent), Tyson (22 percent), and Pueschel (16 percent). Ervin and Ruth advanced to the November general election.
| Candidate | Popular Vote | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Sam J. Ervin, IV | 1,544,337 | 53.09% |
| Kristin Ruth | 1,364,830 | 46.91% |
Court of Appeals (McCullough seat)
Incumbent Douglas McCulloughDouglas McCullough
J. Douglas McCullough is an American lawyer and judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals.-Education and career:After earning a history degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1967 and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina in 1970, McCullough served...
was opposed 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...
.
| Candidate | Popular Vote | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Cheri Beasley | 1,689,550 | 57.42% |
| Doug McCullough | 1,253,133 | 42.58% |
Court of Appeals (Martin seat)
Incumbent John C. MartinJohn C. Martin
John Charles Martin is an American judge, currently Chief Judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals.Born in Durham, North Carolina, Martin earned an undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University in 1965 and his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1967...
, the court's Chief Judge, ran for re-election unopposed.
Court of Appeals (Wynn seat)
Incumbent James A. Wynn was opposed by attorneys Dean R. Poirier and Jewel Ann Farlow in the May 6 primary.Wynn and Farlow advanced to the November general election. Wynn won approximately 48 percent of the vote in the primary, followed by Farlow (37 percent) and Poirier (15 percent).
| Candidate | Popular Vote | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| James A. (Jim) Wynn | 1,584,857 | 54.27% |
| Jewel Ann Farlow | 1,335,260 | 45.73% |