2008 North Carolina judicial elections

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

Supreme Court (Edmunds seat)

Incumbent Robert H. 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.

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. Arrowood,^[7] appointed in 2007, was opposed by former state Board of Elections chairman Robert N. Hunter Jr.^[8]

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 Stephens ran for election, having been appointed in 2007.^[9] She was opposed by attorney Dan Barrett.

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. Tyson^[10][11] was opposed by state District Court Judge Kristin Ruth,^[12][13] former Wake County Clerk of Court Janet Pueschel, and state Utilities Commissioner Sam J. Ervin, IV.^[14]

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.^[15]

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 McCullough^[16] was opposed by state District Court Judge Cheri Beasley.^[17]

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. Martin, the court's Chief Judge, ran for re-election unopposed.^[18]

Court of Appeals (Wynn seat)

Incumbent James A. Wynn^[19] was opposed by attorneys Dean R. Poirier and Jewel Ann Farlow in the May 6 primary.^[20]

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).^[21]

Candidate	Popular Vote	Pct
James A. (Jim) Wynn	1,584,857	54.27%
Jewel Ann Farlow	1,335,260	45.73%

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
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. "Committee to Keep Judge Arrowood". Archived from the original on July 3, 2008. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
8. "Not that Bob Hunter | newsobserver.com projects". Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
9. Judge Linda Stephens for NC Court of Appeals – official campaign website homepage Archived 2006-11-08 at the Wayback Machine
10. Biography
11. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
12. "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.
13. "Judges jump in race | newsobserver.com projects". Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
14. "Ervin campaign site". Archived from the original on October 28, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
15. Morganton News-Herald: Tyson loses bid to retain seat on Court of Appeals^{[permanent dead link‍]}
16. "Biography". Archived from the original on October 27, 2004. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
17. Judge Cheri Beasley – Home Archived 2008-05-02 at the Wayback Machine
18. "Judge John Martin NC Court of Appeals". Archived from the original on October 19, 2008. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
19. "Announcements | Judge Wynn". Archived from the original on February 8, 2008. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
20. "Candidate Listing". Archived from the original on February 19, 2008. Retrieved March 1, 2008.
21. News & Observer: Wynn leads, but Tyson trails