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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North Carolina Supreme Court Upholds Voter ID Law 5 Months After Striking It Down
A conservative majority held that the law was not racially discriminatory, reversing the court’s prior ruling.
The Racist History of State Constitutions Taking Voting Rights from People Convicted of Crimes
Two court decisions raise questions about whether modifying discriminatory provisions can wash away their dubious histories.
Stare Decisis in the Spotlight
North Carolina’s reconfigured supreme court will hear two recently decided democracy cases.
Voter ID Law Struck Down by North Carolina Supreme Court
A closely divided court held that the law was racially discriminatory, but the ruling’s impact may not survive under the court’s new conservative majority.
Risks Ahead in SCOTUS 'Independent State Legislature Theory' Case
Dangers remain as the justices explore a different path for deciding Moore v. Harper.
Key 2022 State Supreme Court Election Results and What They Mean
In two states, the winners mean new court majorities and changed legal landscapes.
State Courts Advance Protections for Young Defendants Even as SCOTUS Slows Progress
Recent decisions show courts using state constitutions to protect young defendants’ rights.