Early voting starts tomorrow in North Carolina in the process to determine who controls the NC Supreme Court.
This is almost a “secret” primary for one of the most important races in North Carolina if not the country. In this “non-partisan” primary the top two vote getters will face each other in November.
History
In 2014, Republicans attempted to eliminate each and every one of the Democrats sitting on the North Carolina Supreme Court.
Despite the Koch Brothers and their allies spending tens of millions of dollars on negative ads the Republican attempt failed. Thanks to strong turn out in a Republican wave election we re-elected Justice Robin Hudson! We were also able to elect Justice Cheri Beasley and Justice Sam Ervin to serve full six-year terms on the Court as well.
This leaves the NC Supreme Court 4-3 and still in partisan Republican control. This is the court that decides the state constitutionality of redistricting and the constitutionality of laws like HB2.
Primary
In 2016 one Republican judge is up for election. Who ever wins this seat will control the court. If a Democrat wins we will control the court through 2022.
In order to preserve their control of this very important court the Republican Governor and the Republican legislature passed a law that turned the election of Supreme Court Justices from a regular election into a recall election.
In the legislation they passed the voters could decide to keep the sitting Republican justice or remove him. If the justice was removed then the Republican governor would then appoint the replacement. The classic “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose” strategy.
The law was challenged in court and a special panel found it to be unconstitutional. The ruling was appealed to the NC Supreme Court and the NC Supreme Court Justice up for election rescued himself and the remaining justices voted 3-3 leaving the special panel decision as law.
Because the ruling came after the state wide primary a judicial “non-partisan” primary was added to the primary on June 7th. The June 7th primaries had been already scheduled because of unconstitutional congressional redistricting that had been overturned.
Because most of the primaries held on June 7th are between Republicans only there is a concern that not enough Democrats will even know about this vital election and will not turn out.
The Orange County Democratic Executive Committee endorses Judge Morgan because of his judicial experience and believes he will make a great Supreme Court justice.
Judge Morgan has been serving the people of North Carolina for several decades. He has served as Associate Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General, Administrative Law Judge, District Court Judge, and now as a Superior Court Judge. You can visit his website to learn more about him at: www.judgemichaelmorgan.com.
Early voting starts Thursday May 26th at limited early voting sites and the primary is June 7th state wide.
Tell everyone you know in NC that it is vital that they MUST turn out and VOTE!