For Attorneys
Attorneys form the backbone of the North Carolina judicial system. There are over 10,000 licensed attorneys across the state, and each and every one of them has this unique qualification: as a licensed attorney, they could be a judge. No other citizen in North Carolina has that privilege.
Accordingly, attorneys have a special duty to ensure that the public perceives that its courts are fair and impartial.
Nationally, exploding campaign costs and a heightened level of partisan politics have made races for the states’ top courts more visible to the public. While research shows that the public maintains a high degree of confidence in the men and women elected to administer justice in North Carolina, the same voters express strong concerns about the process by which they are elected.
The cost of campaigning, in general, has multiplied since the 1980’s. Most contributions to judges come from attorneys, as they above all other classes of voters have the most interaction with, and understanding of, the judiciary. However, the public is very concerned about large contributions by attorneys to judicial candidates, fearing conflict of interests and threats to judicial impartiality and fairness.
In order to protect judicial independence and public faith and confidence within the judiciary, and in order to fight the information deficit most voters suffer from, the Judicial Campaign Reform Act works to provide an alternative source for campaign funds and to better educate voters about the experiences and qualifications of the candidates for the state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.
The Judicial Campaign Reform Act of 2002 was supported by a wide array of campaign reform and public interest groups, as well as the American Bar Association, and over 1,000 North Carolina attorneys. They believe the changes mandated by the new law are the best changes we can make to protect judicial independence and to maintain the public's trust and confidence in its courts under an election-based selection system.
Alternative selection methods are still being explored and your help is needed in working with the public to help them understand the importance our judicial system in their lives and about what problems exist in any elective system.
If you would like to learn more about North Carolina's judicial reforms, please contact us.
© Copyright 2010 N.C. Center for Voter Education
3933 Arrow Dr.
Suite 101
Raleigh, NC 27612
877.258.6837
www.ncvotered.com