Ericka James (North Carolina Superior Court Judge 9B, North Carolina, candidate 2024)

Ericka James (Democratic Party) ran for election to North Carolina Superior Court Judge 9B in North Carolina on November 5, 2024.^[1]

Elections

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Ericka James completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by James' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a judge with over ten years judicial experience presiding over criminal, civil, juvenile, and involuntary commitment matters. I was first elected to the bench in 2012, then re-elected, unopposed, in 2016 and 2020. I am a former prosecutor and public defender who has tried felony and misdemeanor cases throughout every level of the district and superior courts of North Carolina and Virginia. I am the former owner of a general civil and criminal litigation law firm. I am an attorney with over 20 years of legal experience. I am a Rotarian, a member of St. Mark Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, and participate or volunteer for various community civic and professional organizations. My husband, Ronald James, and I have been married for 22 years. We have three children and four grandchildren.

Outside of the legal world, I love to promote the value of adults reading to children, as reading is critical to a child’s education. Most of the young people who come through the court system have not had strong positive adult role-models in their lives to guide them and encourage their education. We can all help our young children simply by reading with them for 15 minutes every day. I have a grandson hundreds of miles away from me, but we read together regularly through video chat.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I am a judge who is focused on the law, not politics. I am focused on people, not any political party. In these hyper-polarized times, people have a right to know that if they come to court, their judge will make rulings and apply the law fairly without political bias. They have a right to expect a judge who honors a victim’s right to be heard as much as a defendant’s right to remain silent. They deserve a judge who is tough but fair, and a judge who does not bend to the political winds of the moment, but who makes decisions based on the facts, the evidence, and the law. In my courtroom, the law applies equally to everyone. No exceptions.
Experience matters. I have over a decade of judicial experience. The other candidate in this race has never been a judge. The only elected position I have ever sought is the position of judge. Three times I have run for a seat on the local bench, and three times local voters have elected me. My opponent has run for two different political offices in the last two elections and lost both times. Now he's running for judge. Judges make life-altering decisions - declaring a person’s guilt or innocence, incarceration or freedom. These decisions are too important to leave to chance in the hands of someone with no judicial experience. A seat on the judicial bench should not be treated as a political stepping stone for an aspiring politician.
Representation is important. As the first African American woman to serve on the District Court of Wayne, Lenoir & Greene Counties (now the 9th Judicial District, formerly the 8th), I take my opportunity and responsibility as a role-model seriously. Young girls should see women in their community in positions of leadership. African Americans should see people who look like them in positions of leadership. Young people need to be inspired to dream and dare to be successful.When they see me, I want them to say, “If she can do it, I can, too!” I want them to see themselves in me and know that when they seek careers in the legal field, or aspire to seek elected office and become a public servant, that it is both admirable and attainable.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Knowledge, honesty, integrity,and compassion. It’s great to be charismatic but elected officials must be capable and knowledgeable about the job. Elected officials are public servants and it does a disservice to the people to elect someone who can deliver impassioned pleas but who cannot deliver results. Rendering judgment and operating a court is about more than just determining guilt or innocence. Behind every case, whether civil or criminal, is a real person who deserves to be dealt with fairly, and who deserves to rest in the knowledge that their legal matter is being resolved by someone who has a reputation for honesty and integrity, and who demonstrates compassion to people when they find themselves inside of a courtroom which, for most people, is probably the last place they want to be.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities for someone elected to the office of Resident Superior Court Judge are as follows: to preside over civil and criminal cases, including civil disputes where the amount in controversy is over $25,000, criminal felonies, and misdemeanor appeals; to manage the administrative duties of the court such as scheduling and managing trials, appointing magistrates, supervising court staff, and working closely with other local elected officials such as the Clerk of Court, District Attorney, Chief District Court Judge, and county commissioners to ensure that the court and its facilities operate smoothly; and lastly, to rotate to different districts within the judicial division to preside over cases there with the same integrity and impartiality exercised in the home county.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

An independent and impartial judiciary is foundational to the rule of law and democracy. As the arbiter of disputes, protector of rights and liberties, and a co-equal branch of government that provides checks and balances of the other two branches, it is imperative that people be able to trust the courts. Transparency and oversight promote that trust. As such, the North Carolina State Bar and the Judicial Standards Commission serve an important role in overseeing the actions of lawyers and judges and holding them to account when necessary.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about the integrity of the courts and the orderly administration of justice. I believe in the mission of the NC Judicial Branch which is “to protect and preserve the rights and liberties of all people, as guaranteed by the US and NC Constitutions and their laws, by providing a fair, independent, and accessible forum for the just, timely, and economical resolution of their legal affairs.” Courts must operate orderly and efficiently without limiting due process, and without unnecessary delay. Litigants should not languish waiting for their cases to be called and court time should not be used to negotiate pleas. I am committed to administering the Superior Court of Wayne County as efficiently as possible for the everyone.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Yes, most people are not aware that superior court judges are required to rotate every 6 months among the districts within their division. “The rotation system is provided for by the state constitution and designed to minimize conflicts of interest that might result from having a permanent judge in one district.” (nccourts.gov/Superior Court Judges). Wayne County, Superior Court District 9B, lies within Superior Court Division 2. There are 8 districts within Division 2, and those districts run west as far as Robeson County, east as far as Carteret, south to Brunswick, and north to Greene County.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

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What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

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