North Carolina
North Carolina’s highest court is the Supreme Court of North Carolina. The court has six associate justices and one chief justice. The chief justice is chosen through election. (Source: North Carolina Constitution)
Judicial Selection
Justices on the Supreme Court of North Carolina are selected through a partisan election, where multiple candidates may vie for the seat. The elected justice serves an eight-year term. Justices may seek additional terms through partisan elections. When a seat opens in the middle of a justice’s term, the governor appoints a candidate to fill the vacancy. The appointed justice holds office until North Carolina’s next general election more than 60 days after the vacancy occurred. The elected justice serves the remainder of the unexpired term. There are no term limits. The mandatory retirement age is 72.
State Constitution
North Carolina has had three state constitutions adopted between 1776 and 1970. As of January 1, 2024, it had 41 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)
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Scholarship Roundup: End of Semester Edition
Recent articles address states taking policy questions away from courts, standing in election cases, and state shadow dockets.
The New Battle Over Youth Disenfranchisement
Laws curbing same-day registration and student ID use could stifle youth voter turnout.
What Is a ‘Public Education’?
Formal legal questions around school funding haven’t changed much over decades, but cultural attitudes toward schooling have.
A Conversation with Justice Anita Earls of the North Carolina Supreme Court
Earls spoke about bias, judicial decision-making in politicized environments, and how voters should assess judicial candidates.
State Supreme Court Elections to Watch in 2024
Key races in Michigan, Montana, Kentucky, and Ohio will shape state law on reproductive rights, criminal justice, and much more.
North Carolina High Court Set to Backtrack on School Funding
The state supreme court is revisiting its 2022 ruling requiring the legislature to allocate funds to ensure children receive a constitutionally adequate education.
State Constitutions: A State Solicitor General’s Perspective
Transcript of panel from Symposium: The Promise and Limits of State Constitutions
Interpretive Methods in State Constitutional Law
Transcript of panel from Symposium: The Promise and Limits of State Constitutions