For information on North Carolina’s spending, and all other television spending in state supreme court races, click here.
This year, voters filled a single seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court. Incumbent Justice Paul Newby was running against Court of Appeals Judge Samuel Ervin IV. Both candidates accepted public financing, but there was a huge surge in outside spending in support of Justice Newby. Outside groups were responsible for over 85 percent of total TV spending. The general election was held on November 6, and Justice Paul Newby won re-election.
North Carolina selected judges in partisan elections through the 2000 election cycle. That year, North Carolina’s Supreme Court campaign exceeded $1 million in spending for the first time, and the North Carolina legislature responded by passing the Judicial Campaign Reform Act in 2002. This law replaced partisan elections with non-partisan judicial races and implemented a program of public financing for appellate judges. Although the public financing program has been a success, the program was repealed in August 2013.
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November 2, 2012 – Can We Trust Ervin
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An ad by Justice for All NC asking, “Sam Ervin the fourth, can we trust him to be a fair judge?”
October 29, 2012 – Rarely Agree
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An ad by the North Carolina Judicial Coalition saying, “Judge Paul Newby is above the political fray.”
October 29, 2012 – My Grandfather
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An ad by Sam Ervin saying, “There is no place in our courts for partisan politics or ideology.”
October 17, 2012 – Court for Sale
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An ad from Sam Ervin saying, “independent groups are spending thousands to buy a seat on the state’s highest court.”
October 16, 2012 – Citizen Lawyer
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An ad from Paul Newby on his endorsements and “honest, conservative leadership.”
October 12, 2012 – Criminals Beware
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An ad by the North Carolina Judicial Coalition supporting Paul Newby saying, “Criminals best beware.”