2008 North Carolina judicial elections

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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, Council of State, State Senate, and State House elections.

Contents

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. [1]

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 Hunter Jr.) defeated a Democrat in a Court of Appeals race. [2]

Supreme Court (Seat 6)

Incumbent Robert Edmunds Jr. [3] ran for re-election [4] and was opposed by Professor Suzanne Reynolds [5] of Wake Forest University Law School. [6] Edmunds defeated Reynolds in the closest statewide judicial race of 2008.

North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice (Seat 6) general election, 2008 [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Robert Edmunds Jr. (incumbent) 1,577,419 51.00%
Nonpartisan Suzanne Reynolds 1,515,34549.00%
Total votes3,092,764 100%

Court of Appeals (Seat 1)

Incumbent James Andrew Wynn [8] was opposed by attorneys Dean R. Poirier and Jewel Ann Farlow in the May 6 primary. [9]

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). [10]

North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge (Seat 1) primary election, 2008 [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan James Andrew Wynn (incumbent) 773,245 48.08%
Nonpartisan Jewel Ann Farlow 600,110 37.31%
Nonpartisan Dean R. Poirier234,94114.61%
Total votes1,608,296 100%
North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge (Seat 1) general election, 2008 [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan James Andrew Wynn (incumbent) 1,599,340 54.24%
Nonpartisan Jewel Ann Farlow1,349,55245.76%
Total votes2,948,892 100%

Court of Appeals (Seat 7)

Incumbent Douglas McCullough [13] was opposed by state District Court Judge Cheri Beasley. [14]

North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge (Seat 7) general election, 2008 [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Cheri Beasley 1,706,132 57.42%
Nonpartisan Douglas McCullough (incumbent)1,265,37842.58%
Total votes2,971,510 100%

Court of Appeals (Seat 10)

Incumbent John Martin, the court's Chief Judge, ran for re-election unopposed. [16]

North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge (Seat 10) general election, 2008 [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan John Martin (incumbent) 2,410,251 100%
Total votes2,410,251 100%

Court of Appeals (Seat 11)

Incumbent Linda Stephens ran for election, having been appointed in 2007. [18] She was opposed by attorney Dan Barrett.

North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge (Seat 11) general election, 2008 [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Linda Stephens (incumbent) 1,729,139 58.76%
Nonpartisan Dan Barrett 1,213,74641.24%
Total votes2,942,885 100%

Court of Appeals (Seat 12)

Incumbent John Arrowood, [20] appointed in 2007, was opposed by former state Board of Elections chairman Robert Hunter Jr. [21]

North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge (Seat 12) general election, 2008 [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Robert Hunter Jr. 1,544,825 53.70%
Nonpartisan John Arrowood (incumbent)1,332,10746.30%
Total votes2,876,932 100%

Court of Appeals (Seat 13)

Incumbent John Tyson [23] [24] was opposed by state District Court Judge Kristin Ruth, [25] [26] former Wake County Clerk of Court Janet Pueschel, and state Utilities Commissioner Sam Ervin IV. [27]

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. [28]

North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge (Seat 13) primary election, 2008 [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Sam Ervin IV 614,297 36.71%
Nonpartisan Kristin Ruth 429,862 25.69%
Nonpartisan John Tyson (incumbent)366,02821.87%
Nonpartisan Janet Pueschel263,18315.73%
Total votes1,673,370 100%
North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge (Seat 13) general election, 2008 [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Sam Ervin IV 1,559,466 53.09%
Nonpartisan Kristin Ruth 1,378,11246.91%
Total votes2,937,578 100%

References

  1. ↑ "Primary Election Voter Guide". Archived from the original on April 18, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
  2. ↑ AP: GOP maintains edge on Supreme Court Archived 2017-04-25 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ "Biography". www.nccourts.org. Archived from the original on April 18, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Edmunds will run in 2008 | newsobserver.com projects". Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  5. ↑ "Suzanne Reynolds for NC Supreme Court - suzannereynolds.org". Archived from the original on September 3, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Reynolds v. Edmunds for Supreme Court | newsobserver.com projects". Archived from the original on October 19, 2008. Retrieved November 14, 2007.
  7. ↑ "11/04/2008 Official General Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Announcements | Judge Wynn". Archived from the original on February 8, 2008. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Candidate Listing". Archived from the original on February 19, 2008. Retrieved March 1, 2008.
  10. ↑ "newsobserver.com | Wynn leads, but Tyson trails". Archived from the original on October 28, 2008. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  11. ↑ "05/06/2008 Official Primary Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  12. ↑ "11/04/2008 Official General Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Biography". Archived from the original on October 27, 2004. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
  14. ↑ "Judge Cheri Beasley - Home". Archived from the original on May 2, 2008. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  15. ↑ "11/04/2008 Official General Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Judge John Martin NC Court of Appeals". Archived from the original on October 19, 2008. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
  17. ↑ "11/04/2008 Official General Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Judge Linda Stephens for NC Court of Appeals". Archived from the original on November 8, 2006. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  19. ↑ "11/04/2008 Official General Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Committee to Keep Judge Arrowood". Archived from the original on July 3, 2008. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
  21. ↑ "Not that Bob Hunter | newsobserver.com projects". Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
  22. ↑ "11/04/2008 Official General Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Biography". www.nccourts.org. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  25. ↑ "Judge Kristin Ruth to Run for NC Court of Appeals | Judge Kristin H. Ruth". Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved September 14, 2007.
  26. ↑ "Judges jump in race | newsobserver.com projects". Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  27. ↑ "Ervin campaign site". Archived from the original on October 28, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  28. ↑ Morganton News-Herald: Tyson loses bid to retain seat on Court of Appeals [ permanent dead link ]
  29. ↑ "05/06/2008 Official Primary Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  30. ↑ "11/04/2008 Official General Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
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