Voters register apparent satisfaction with state’s high courts
Voters have registered satisfaction with the state’s appellate courts, confidently re-electing Sarah Parker of Charlotte chief justice and affirming at least three other incumbents in partial returns Tuesday night.
Justice Parker, a jurist with 21 years on the state’s two high courts, held a 2-1 lead over challenger Rusty Duke, a Superior Court judge in Pitt County. She has served as chief justice since February, appointed to the post by Gov. Mike Easley after former chief justice Beverly Lake retired last year. Voters opted for seasoning and rapport with the Democratic legislature in the chief justice seat.
In the race for three associate justice seats, voters can take special note of another apparent victory: Justice Mark Martin won re-election over challenger Rachel Lea Hunter, an attorney in private practice who had neither the legal grounding nor the demeanor required for the bench. Judge Martin is an experienced jurist; Ms. Hunter ran afoul of the Board of Elections and misrepresented her support to voters. It would have been a serious setback to replace Judge Martin with such an unqualified candidate.
The race between Court of Appeals judges Ann Marie Calabria and Robin Hudson for a seat on the Supreme Court remained close, with Judge Hudson maintaining a 51 percent to 49 percent edge. (more…)
Raleigh, NC
