The State Board of Elections today set a special filing period for three judicial seats vacated by Chief Judge John Martin of the Court of Appeals, Superior Court Judge William Constangy (Mecklenburg), and Superior Court Judge Robert Johnson (Alamance).
Candidates may file during regular business hours at the State Board of Elections office in Raleigh, beginning noon on Friday, Aug. 1 and ending noon on Friday, Aug. 8. The statutory filing fee is $1,331 for the Court of Appeals and $1,259 for Superior Court. Additional details are available online.
Judicial races in North Carolina are nonpartisan. All qualified candidates will appear on the General Election ballot in November. The winner in each race will be determined by a plurality.
North Carolina law sets a mandatory age of retirement for judges: 72. Both Chief Justice Sarah Parker of the Supreme Court and Judge Constangy will reach the maximum age in August and will retire, effective Aug. 31. There is already an active race for the position of Chief Justice. Both Chief Judge Martin and Judge Johnson have announced their intent to resign, effective Aug. 1.