The North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers and the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys – lawyers who typically represent opposing sides in civil litigation -- have both endorsed Judge Linda Stephens. Stephens is the only judge to date to receive the dual endorsement of these groups for the 2008 election.

"These lawyers follow our courts carefully," Stephens said, "and I am honored to have their unified support. I strive every day to work hard and apply the law fairly, and am grateful for the recognition that these endorsements represent."

In addition to the legal groups, Stephens was recently endorsed by the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE). NCAE has 70,000 members and 130 local units around the state.

These endorsements follow bipartisan endorsements from Republican and Democratic former North Carolina Supreme Court Justices: James Exum, I. Beverly Lake Jr., and Burley Mitchell.

In her last campaign, Judge Linda Stephens was endorsed by:

• The AFL-CIO
• Asheville Citizen-Times
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Black Political Caucus
• The Charlotte Observer
• Durham People's Alliance
• Greensboro News & Record
• Greenville Daily Reflector
• The Independent Weekly
• The NC Academy of Trial Lawyers
• The North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys
• The North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE)
• The NC Fraternal Order of Police
• The NC Police Benevolent Association
• The North Carolina Troopers Association
• The News & Observer
• Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics of NC
• The Wilmington Journal
• Winston-Salem Journal