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Why are North Carolina's judicial races partisan? Disputed high court race raises questions

Bitzer, author of Redistricting and Gerrymandering in North Carolina: Battlelines in the Tar Heel State, bolstered Gerry Cohen's contention that Democratic lawmakers in the 1990s wanted to stem the tide of GOP gains in judicial elections.

The article from WUNC discusses the partisan nature of judicial elections in North Carolina, focusing on a case before the state's Supreme Court that questions the constitutionality of partisan judicial races. The case, Harper v. Hall, challenges the state's redistricting maps, but a related issue has emerged regarding whether judicial candidates should run with party labels. Critics argue that partisan elections could undermine judicial impartiality, as judges might feel beholden to the political parties that supported their campaigns. The article highlights the debate over whether these partisan labels influence judicial decisions and public perception of judicial fairness. It also notes that while some states have moved towards nonpartisan or retention elections for judges, North Carolina continues to use partisan elections, a practice that has been in place since the 19th century. The Supreme Court's decision could potentially alter how judicial candidates are elected in the state, impacting the balance between judicial independence and political accountability.

Read the Full WUNC Article at:
https://www.wunc.org/politics/2025-03-17/why-north-carolina-judicial-races-partisan-high-court-questions


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