Great news: We have outstanding Democratic candidates to support for statewide judicial offices in 2026!
In 2024, we elected Justice Allison Riggs to a full 8-year term. This year, EVERY OTHER SEAT HELD BY A DEMOCRAT on both our state courts is up for election – and no seats held by Republicans. If we can hold our remaining Democratic seats this year, then in 2028, we can flip our state courts blue before new election maps are drawn for the next decade.
All of these seats have eight-year terms, and these elections can come down to just a few votes. The stakes for each race are high – and each win will have long-term effects.
NORTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT
Republicans currently hold five of the seven NC Supreme Court seats. Only one seat – Justice Anita Earls’ seat – is up for election this year. It’s critical that we defend it, just as we did with Justice Allison Riggs’ seat in 2024!
Justice Anita Earls
Justice Anita Earls was first elected to the NC Supreme Court in 2018. For her entire career, she has stood alongside people whose right to vote was denied, people who were mistreated at work, and the parents of children who were being denied equal educational opportunities, seeking equal justice under the law in state and federal courtrooms.
Justice Anita Earls
A former deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, she also worked at the UNC Center for Civil Rights. In 2007, she founded the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, a nonprofit legal advocacy organization that partners with historically marginalized communities across the South. She served as the organization’s executive director for 10 years.
Justice Earls’ values of justice, equality, and fairness for all were born of the struggle she experienced growing up in a mixed-race family at a time when interracial marriages were illegal in most of the country. She is the only African-American justice currently serving on the NC Supreme Court.
Learn more about Justice Earls or donate to her campaign.
Read our interview with Justice Earls.
NORTH CAROLINA COURT OF APPEALS
Democrats hold only 3 of the 15 NC Court of Appeals Seats. All three seats currently held by Democrats are up for election this year, so we are in defense mode. We must re-elect Judges Toby Hampson and Judge John Arrowood and elect Judge Christine Walczyk, who is currently a Wake County district court judge.
We have the opportunity to take back the NC Court of Appeals in 2028. Winning these seats is critical!
Judge Toby Hampson
Judge Toby Hampson
Judge Toby Hampson began his career at the NC Court of Appeals, clerking for three judges. He entered private practice with the Raleigh law firm of Patterson Dilthey, focusing on trial and appellate litigation before joining Wyrick, Robbins, Yates & Ponton in 2007.
At Wyrick, he led the firm’s Appellate Practice group. He serves on the North Carolina Bar Association’s Appellate Rules Committee and is a Bar-certified specialist in Appellate Practice.
Judge Hampson was first elected to the NC Court of Appeals in 2018.
He grew up in Moore County and is the proud product of North Carolina public schools.
Learn more about Judge Hampson or donate to his campaign.
Read our interview with Judge Hampson.
Judge John Arrowood
In 2017, Judge John Arrowood was appointed to the NC Court of Appeals by Gov. Roy Cooper before being elected to an eight-year term in 2018. He formerly served on the court in 2007 and 2008.
Judge John Arrowood
Judge Arrowood’s prior experience includes serving as a special superior court judge as well as working as a partner at James, McElroy & Diehl, PA. He is an American Arbitration Association-accredited arbitrator and a certified mediator. He also has experience as a staff attorney for the NC Court of Appeals.
He was born in Burnsville and lived in rural Yancey County until his parents passed away when he was 15. Following their deaths, he moved to Caldwell County to live with his brother, a state trooper, and his family.
Learn more about Judge Arrowood or donate to his campaign.
Read our interview with Judge Arrowood.
Judge Christine Walczyk
Born in Raleigh, Judge Christine Walczyk has been a Wake County district court trial judge for 19 years, making her the most experienced district court judge in the county.
Judge Christine Walczyk
She was nominated by four chief district court judges (Democrat and Republican) to serve in leadership positions, including Lead Judge in Family Court for many years, and currently as Lead Judge in the general civil court.
Previously, she practiced law in Raleigh, representing small businesses with their transactional and litigation needs. She also represented indigent defendants in criminal cases and juveniles in delinquency matters.
Learn more about Judge Walczyk or donate to her campaign.
Read our interview with Judge Walczyk.
The earlier we can reach out to voters with information about these candidates, the better. Join us for an upcoming event, or find our other volunteer opportunities here!