STEPHENS ANNOUNCES BIPARTISAN ENDORSEMENTS
Former Chief Justices Endorse Court of Appeals Judge Linda Stephens
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lisa Grafstein, (919) 395-5412
Raleigh – Three former Chief Justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court – James Exum, I. Beverly Lake Jr., and Burley Mitchell – have announced their bipartisan endorsement of Judge Linda Stephens. Stephens, a Court of Appeals judge since 2006, is running to keep her seat. Lake, a registered Republican, served as Chief Justice from 2000–2006. Democrats Exum and Mitchell served as Chief Justice 1986–1995 and 1995–1999, respectively.
"I very much appreciate having the support of former Chief Justices from both parties," said Stephens. "North Carolinians want their judges to be fair and impartial, and I am grateful to have the support of Democrats, Republicans, and others who understand my record of dedication to putting the law above all other considerations."
Appellate judicial races became non-partisan in 2004. The same year, public funding of judicial campaigns was introduced for the North Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. These endorsements come on the heels of Stephens' announcement last week that she was the first appellate candidate this cycle to raise the maximum contributions allowable under the Judicial Campaign Reform Act. "We are thrilled with where we are at this point in the campaign and ready to move forward," Stephens said. A video version of her statement can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/StephensCampaign.
Prior to joining the Court of Appeals, Judge Stephens worked for the former Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, served as a Deputy Commissioner at the North Carolina Industrial Commission, and was engaged in the private practice of law for more than twenty years. Judge Stephens lives in Raleigh with her husband, Wake County Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Donald Stephens, and the cats and dogs they have rescued over the years.