Patricia Timmons-Goodson
Encyclopedia
Patricia 'Pat' Timmons-Goodson (born 18 September 1954) is an American
judge, currently an associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
.
Born in Florence, South Carolina
, Timmons-Goodson, the daughter of a U.S. Army officer, was raised on military bases in the United States and Europe. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, earning an undergraduate degree in speech in 1976 and a law degree in 1979.
She worked as a prosecutor and as a private attorney in Fayetteville
until she was named a District Court judge in 1984; Timmons-Goodson was subsequently elected as a Democrat to four-year terms as a district judge in 1986, 1990, and 1994. In 1997, she was appointed by Gov. Jim Hunt
to the North Carolina Court of Appeals
. She retired from that court in late 2005.
On January 19, 2006, North Carolina Governor Mike Easley
announced that he was appointing Judge Timmons-Goodson to the North Carolina Supreme Court
to take the place of Associate Justice Sarah Parker
. In February 2006, she became the first African American woman to sit on the Court. She was elected by the voters to remain on the Court in November 2006
, defeating Judge Eric Levinson.
Justice Timmons-Goodson is married and has two sons.
She delivered the commencement address for Johnson C. Smith University
on May 6, 2007.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
judge, currently an associate justice 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 Florence, South Carolina
Florence, South Carolina
-Municipal government and politics:The City of Florence has a council-manager form of government. The mayor and city council are elected every four years, with no term limits...
, Timmons-Goodson, the daughter of a U.S. Army officer, was raised on military bases in the United States and Europe. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University 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...
, earning an undergraduate degree in speech in 1976 and a law degree in 1979.
She worked as a prosecutor and as a private attorney in Fayetteville
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
until she was named a District Court judge in 1984; Timmons-Goodson was subsequently elected as a Democrat to four-year terms as a district judge in 1986, 1990, and 1994. In 1997, she was appointed by Gov. 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:...
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...
. She retired from that court in late 2005.
On January 19, 2006, North Carolina Governor Mike Easley
Mike Easley
Michael Francis "Mike" Easley is an American politician who served as the 72nd Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina, from 2001 to 2009. He is member of the North Carolina Democratic Party and became the first North Carolina governor to admit to a felony in a deal that halted a lengthy...
announced that he was appointing Judge Timmons-Goodson to 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...
to take the place of 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:...
. In February 2006, she became the first African American woman to sit on the Court. She was elected by the voters to remain on the Court in November 2006
North Carolina judicial elections, 2006
Justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court and judges of the North Carolina Court of Appeals are elected to eight-year terms in statewide judicial elections. In 2006, allthese races were non-partisan...
, defeating Judge Eric Levinson.
Justice Timmons-Goodson is married and has two sons.
She delivered the commencement address for Johnson C. Smith University
Johnson C. Smith University
Johnson C. Smith University is a private, co-ed, four-year liberal arts institution of higher learning located in the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. It is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. JCSU is also a historically black college...
on May 6, 2007.