North Carolina Trial Law Blog

Well, the results of the election are in and the numbers look good.  NC selected moderate, experienced Judges for the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.

The Raleigh News & Observer reports (as of this posting):

Supreme Court (Chief Justice)     Sarah Parker 1126541     Rusty Duke 564619 2761 of 2767 precincts reporting Court of Appeals (Stephens)     Donna Stroud 767034     Linda Stephens * 763043 2761 of 2767 precincts reporting Supreme Court (Assoc. Justice Martin)     Mark Martin * 992306     Rachel Hunter 595026 2761 of 2767 precincts reporting Supreme Court (Assoc. Justice Timmons-Goodson)     Patricia Timmons-Goodson * 943645     Eric Levinson 676569 2761 of 2767 precincts reporting Supreme Court (Assoc. Justice Wainwright)     Robin Hudson 798619     Ann Marie Calabria 778657 2761 of 2767 precincts reporting Supreme Court (Chief Justice)     Sarah Parker 1126541     Rusty Duke 564619 2761 of 2767 precincts reporting

You can read all the election results at the N&O Here.

With the exception of Donna Stroud, all of the experienced appellate Judges were re-elected.  Now the Hudson seat at the Court of Appeals will get a new appointment by Governor Easley.

The one exception to incumbents getting re-elected was the Stephens v. Stroud race.  Donna Stroud, a Republican from Zebulon won the election.  I think the good news is that she has served as a District Court Judge since 2004, and has concentrated on family law during her career.  I always think it is a good thing for a Judge to have actual trial experience and to have worked in a law firm with real clients.  This seems to bring a practical touch to the bench, so I'll be interested to see how her opinions stack up.  It also looks like her partners in her previous firm practiced criminal defense law, so she brings a fairly broad range of experience to the Court.

The Election of Judge Hudson to the Supreme Court may have some interesting implications is the Ezell case, discussed in the Medicaid forum on NC Trial Law Blog, is accepted for a rehearing.  Judge Hudson wrote the Court of Appeals majority opinion in that case that, in my opinion, properly addressed the legal issue.

Thanks to all that voted in this very rainy election.  I stood at my precinct poll in the pouring down rain from 6:00 am until 7:00 pm, with two breaks to go home and change into dry socks and shoes.  It was a miserable day, weather wise.  We set out an empty coffee cup in the morning and it was full by the end of the day.  A 16 ounce coffee cup!! 

Chris Nichols, www.NicholsTrialLaw.com