More on Judicial Endorsements

"I chair the NC Association of Women Attorneys Judicial Endorsements Committee, a registered state political action committee.

"The following list is our endorsements for the 2006 election cycle. I want to emphasize that it is particularly important to vote for candidates for our appellate courts. All NC judicial races are now non-partisan. However, our Supreme Court is very conservative currently and in danger of becoming exceedingly so if some of the candidates who are running now are elected (and some of the sitting judges are defeated).

"A few of the candidates could be considered a NC version of Justice Scalia or Justice Thomas. So, please make sure you get to the polls and help us keep a strong and impartial judiciary.

"Early voting is now taking place at your local county election headquarters. Otherwise, election day is Tuesday, November 7.

"The North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys Judicial Endorsements Committee Endorsements for the 2006 Election Cycle:

NORTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT
Chief Justice: Sarah Parker
Associate Justice: Mark D. Martin
Associate Justice: Patricia Timmons-Goodson
Associate Justice: Robin Hudson

NORTH CAROLINA COURT OF APPEALS
Robert C. Hunter
Linda Stephens

SUPERIOR COURT
District 10B Ripley Rand (Raleigh)
District 15B Carl R. Fox (Orange County) Adam Stein (Orange County)
District 18C Susan E. Bray
District 26B Robert P. Johnston
District 27A Jesse B. Caldwell

DISTRICT COURT
District 1 Eula E. Reid
District 10 Joyce Hamilton (Raleigh)
Vince Rozier (Raleigh)
Kristin Ruth (Raleigh)
Anne B. Salisbury (Raleigh)
District 12 Cheri Beasley
Talmage Baggett
David H. Hasty
A. Elizabeth Keever
Robert Stiehl
District 14 Nancy E. Gordon (Durham)
Ann McKown (Durham)
Marcia H. Morey (Durham)
District 18 Susan O'Hale
District 26 Rickye McKoy-Mitchell
District 28 Sharon Barrett
Patricia Kaufmann Young

"The JEC board follows set criteria and procedures in making endorsements. The committee endorses a candidate for judicial office based on the following criteria: (1) the candidate's legal skill and ability; (2) the candidate's experience as a professional and in the community; (3) the candidate's temperament and demeanor for a judicial position; and (4) the candidate's support for women in the legal profession, the rights of women under the law and other organizational positions.

"The board evaluates each candidate for a race and conducts a thorough investigation. The investigation specifically includes interviewing practitioners about the candidates, both those that the candidate has listed as references and others in the relevant community. For candidates who have already served as appellate judges, the investigation includes reading their opinions. The procedure is thorough and the committee takes its obligation to investigate seriously.

"Let me know if you have questions."
Stella Anne Boswel, 4805 American Drive, Durham, NC 27705 (919)309-0695 stellab@verizon.net