Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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ELECTION Guide 2010 JUDICIAL ELECTIONS The following question was asked of the candidates for the judicial elections. What qualifi es you to sit on the bench? Supreme Court Associate Justice Robert C. Hunter I pride myself on being a fair and independent judge. I have heard more than 3,600 appellate cases during my 12 year tenure, and I have personally authored more than 1,200 opinions. After 12 years, those who follow the courts have had a thorough opportunity to review my work. My reputation as a judge is one who will listen to and consider carefully all sides and decide cases according to the law. I believe that is why I have been endorsed by all the legal groups making endorsements in this race, including the bar groups representing opposing sides in civil litigation. I have also been endorsed by the NC Association of Women Attorneys. What I offer to the public is a balanced, sensible voice for all the citizens of this state as a Supreme Court Justice, and a proven record of hard work and fairness. A strong work ethic amongst the judiciary is needed to maintain independence and access to justice. The office of Associate Justice of the NC Supreme Court is not to be taken lightly. It demands hard work, long hours, and intellectual rigor. I am proud of my reputation as one of the hardest working members of the Court of Appeals, and I look forward to bringing my passion for justice to the Supreme Court. I have built a reputation as a judge with a strong commitment to a fair and unbiased process. I bring no personal or political agenda to the court, beyond a commitment to the United States and North Carolina Constitutions and laws. As noted above, my reputation for fairness — and my lack of an agenda — have earned me support across the legal spectrum. I am proud to have substantial support across the political spectrum as well. I believe my 40 year career has established me as an independent and ex- perienced judge, committed to the rule of law and impartial administration of justice. As an attorney, prosecutor, NC Representative, victims’ rights advocate and now, appellate judge, I have worked tirelessly to help and protect North Carolinians. I have been endorsed by former Supreme Court Chief Justices Burley Mitchell, Henry Frye and Jim Exum; former Court of Appeals Chief Judge Sid Eagles and Judges Loretta Biggs, Al Thomas and Sydnor Thompson; former Governor Jim Hunt; the N.C. Association of Women Attorneys; NC Troopers Associa- tion; NC Police Benevolent Association; NC Association of Educators; NC Advocates for Justice; and the NC Association of Defense Attorneys. Barbara Jackson My name is Barbara Jackson, and I am a candidate for the only open seat on the Supreme Court of North Carolina. Twenty years ago, I began my legal career as a law clerk at the Supreme Court of North Carolina. I am now in my fifth year of service as a judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and I believe that the best way to continue serving my state and my fellow citizens is to seek election to our state Supreme Court. The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the highest court in North Carolina; its justices must pos- sess both the necessary judicial temperament and a wide range of legal experience. I possess both. After receiving both my undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I served as a law clerk for former Chief Justice Burley B. Mitchell, Jr. of the NC Supreme Court. Following my clerkship, I served as associate general counsel in Governor Jim Martin’s administration and worked on issues such as voting rights and executive clemency. I then joined the Governor’s Advocacy Counsel for Persons with Disabilities where I represented clients with disabilities from all over the state in coun- ties as diverse as Henderson, Buncombe, Pitt, Beaufort and Mecklenburg. After four years, I went into private practice, concentrating on land use and mu- nicipal law. When Cherie Berry was elected Commissioner of Labor, I joined her administration as General Counsel. In 2004, I was elected to the North Carolina Court of Appeals with the support of 55% of North Carolina’s voters. I have since ruled in more than 1,500 cases and authored over 500 opinions. As the guardian of the state’s constitution, I firmly believe that the Supreme Court of North Carolina is no place for judicial activism. It is the sole duty of the judicial branch to judge fairly and impartially, within the limita- tions provided by the constitution and laws of the state. Put simply, I believe that legislators should legislate and judges should judge. I put these beliefs into practice as a judge. On a more personal note, I grew up in Raleigh. I am involved in my community. I have been an ac- tive volunteer with the Junior League of Raleigh, chaired the North Carolina Bar Association’s Adminis- trative Law Section, and served on the Board of the Wake County Bar Association. I sing in the Chancel Choir of Highland United Methodist Church, where I have been a member since 1974 and where I will WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM be married in 2011. I am the only candidate for the North Carolina Supreme Court who has appeared on Jeopardy! Thank you for taking the time to learn about my campaign. For more information, please visit my campaign website at www.judgebarbarajackson.com. I would appreciate your support and your vote on November 2nd. Court of Appeals Judge Sanford Steelman I have more judicial experience than any other candidate for statewide appellate judicial positions this year, having served for eight years on the North Carolina Court of Ap- peals, 2003-2010, and eight years as a Resident Superior Court Judge for Dis- trict 20-B (Stanly and Union Counties), 1994-2002. In addition, I practiced law in Monroe for 18 years, handling just about every possible type of civil case. My experience has not been limited to the courts. From 1991-1994, I served as Union County Attorney; Village of Marvin Attorney, 1994; Chair, North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission, 2004-2008; Instructor, North Carolina Judicial College, 2008, 2010; Vice-President, North Carolina Bar Association, 2010-2011. However, all of this experience is of little value unless one knows and understands how to apply it to the many and difficult cases that we are con- fronted with on the Court of Appeals. In order to be an effective judge, one must have a firm moral compass to understand the difference between right and wrong; and a commitment to treat all persons fairly regardless of their race, social status or background. I believe that I possess these characteristics, have applied them on a daily basis to my work at the court and will continue to apply them for the next eight years. Ann Marie Calabria I want to thank Up & Coming Weekly for providing this information to your readers and others interested in our state courts. Voters of Fayetteville and Cumberland County have a major stake in this election. As a former Fayetteville and Fort Bragg resident, I am sure you will evaluate judicial candidates carefully. This election will help set the course for our state courts for the next eight years. The voters are presented with a clear choice. I currently serve as one of fifteen judges on the North Carolina Court of Appeals, our state’s only intermediate appellate court. We sit in rotating panels of three, deciding only errors in legal procedures or judicial interpretation of the civil, criminal and juvenile laws in decisions appealed from the District and Superior courts as well as appeals from state administrative agencies. When I graduated from Campbell University School of Law in 1983, we were encouraged to seek public service, however, my husband, Colonel Robert D. Calabria, was an active duty Army officer so we went to Germany with our children. After practicing law for eight years, I was elected District Court Judge in Wake County in 1996 and served for six years. In 2002, I was elected to the NC Court of Ap- peals. My fourteen years as a judge have been the greatest privilege of my professional life because they have given me an important but limited role in the judicial branch of our state government. As a judge, I strive to protect individual liberty, apply the law fairly and recognize the authorities, responsibilities and limits on each branch of government. I believe in judicial restraint, not judicial activism. Now, my husband is a retired Army officer, our three children are married and we have three grandchildren. I am running for re-election for the Calabria Seat on the NC Court of Appeals. I am the only candidate for the Calabria Seat with 14 years of judicial experience as well as business management experience as an attorney. On the Court of Appeals, I have handled more than 2,400 appellate cases and have authored approximately 800 appellate opinions (www.nccourts.org). As a trial judge, I handled over 50,000 civil, criminal and juvenile cases in district court. I am uniquely qualified for re-election to the NC Court of Appeals. In addition to my public service as a judge, I remain active in the community. I was awarded “2009 Volunteer of the Year” by the Literacy Council of Wake County for leadership as Chairperson of the Juvenile Outreach Literacy Team. I am a member of the Cary and Garner Chambers of Commerce and the National Association of Women Business Owners. I need the voters to know that judges are listed as non-partisan on the ballot and voters must vote for each judge individually by name because the judges are not included in a straight-ticket vote. My name will be on every ballot in our state. Thank you, in advance, for your vote for Judge Ann Marie Calabria for the NC Court of Appeals. Early voting starts October 14th and the last day to vote is Tuesday, Novem- ber 2nd. I have been endorsed by law enforcement. Please visit my website www.judgecalabria.com for my additional endorsements and information. Thank you for this opportunity to share my background and qualifications with the voters in Cumberland County. OCTOBER 20-26, 2010 UCW 25