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James Ansley
James Ronnie Ansley is a Democrat from North Carolina, who has sought elected office multiple times. An attorney in private practice with a background in agriculture education, Ansley has sought election to seats on the state's district and superior courts, as well as campaigning for its executive agricultural office. Ansley was defeated in the four campaigns Ballotpedia tracked from 2008 to 2016.
In 2016, Ansley was a candidate for the nonpartisan District 10C seat on the 3rd Division of the Superior Court in North Carolina. He was defeated in the primary election on June 7, 2016. Ansley had previously sought election to the North Carolina 10th Judicial District in 2012 and 2014. He was defeated in the nonpartisan primary in both of those election cycles.[1][2]
In 2008, Ansley ran as a Democrat against incumbent North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler (R). Ansley lost to Troxler in the general election that year.
Biography
Ansley received an undergraduate degree in agricultural education from North Carolina State University in 1984. He then received a master's degree in that same field of study from Clemson University in 1988. In 1991, he received his J.D. from the Mississippi College School of Law. Ansley has spent his legal career as a private practice attorney.[3]
Elections
2016
2016: North Carolina Superior Court 3rd Division
Rebecca Waters Holt and Michael Denning defeated Hoyt Gold Tessener, Karlene Scott Turrentine, and James Ansley in the Superior Court 3rd Division District 10C primary election.[4]
| North Carolina Superior Court 3rd Division, District 10C, Primary Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Rebecca Waters Holt |
38.10% | 5,692 |
| Michael Denning |
28.37% | 4,239 |
| Hoyt Gold Tessener | 17.45% | 2,607 |
| Karlene Scott Turrentine | 10.64% | 1,589 |
| James Ansley | 5.44% | 813 |
| Total Votes | 14,940 | |
| Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Unofficial election results," accessed November 8, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Partisan election of judges
The 98 judges of the North Carolina Superior Courts are chosen in partisan elections to serve eight-year terms. From 1998 through 2016, elections for superior court judges were nonpartisan; however, on March 23, 2017, the North Carolina legislature changed the method of election to partisan elections by overriding Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of HB 100. This change was effective with the 2018 superior court elections.[5][6][7][8][9]
The chief judge of each superior court is chosen by seniority.[10]
Qualifications
To serve on a superior court, a judge must be:
2014
2014: North Carolina 10th Judicial District
| Ronnie Ansley interview with NCpol.com |
Ansley ran for election to the 10th Judicial District.
General: He was defeated in the general election on November 4, 2014, after receiving 48.2 percent of the vote. He competed against incumbent Judge Louis B. Meyer, III.[1]
Judicial performance evaluation
In July 2014, the North Carolina Bar Association released the results of a survey in which it asked lawyers to rate the judicial candidates for the trial courts. The candidates were rated from one to five on five different criteria as well as on their overall performance.[11]
| James Ansley | ||
|---|---|---|
| Quality/Skill Rated | # of Responses | Average Rating |
| Integrity & Impartiality | 207 | 4.27 |
| Legal Ability | 208 | 3.84 |
| Professionalism | 208 | 4.25 |
| Communication | 204 | 4.15 |
| Administrative Skills | 147 | 4.03 |
| Overall Performance | 202 | 4.01 |
Selection method
- See also: Partisan election of judges
The North Carolina District Courts utilize partisan elections in the selection of judges. District judges serve four-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to continue serving. From 2002 through 2016, elections for district court judges were nonpartisan; however, on March 23, 2017, the North Carolina legislature changed the method of election to partisan elections by overriding Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of HB 100. This change was effective with the 2018 district court elections.[5][12][13]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:[5]
- licensed to practice law in the state;
- a district resident; and
- under the age of 72 (retirement at 72 is mandatory).
2012
2012: North Carolina 10th Judicial District
- See also: North Carolina judicial elections, 2012
Ansley ran for election to the 10th Judicial District. He was defeated in the primary election on May 8, 2012, after receiving 11.0 percent of the vote.[14][2]
Judicial candidate survey
The North Carolina Bar Association asked its members to rank judicial candidates on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being "excellent." The North Carolina Bar Association is a voluntary and non-governmental organization of lawyers, paralegals and law students, not affiliated with the North Carolina State Bar. Below are Ansley's ratings in five categories and overall:
- Overall: 3.93
- Integrity & Fairness: 4.30
- Legal Ability: 3.74
- Professionalism: 4.23
- Communication: 4.11
- Administrative Skills: 3.78[15]
Selection method
- See also: Partisan election of judges
The North Carolina District Courts utilize partisan elections in the selection of judges. District judges serve four-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to continue serving. From 2002 through 2016, elections for district court judges were nonpartisan; however, on March 23, 2017, the North Carolina legislature changed the method of election to partisan elections by overriding Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of HB 100. This change was effective with the 2018 district court elections.[5][16][17]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:[5]
- licensed to practice law in the state;
- a district resident; and
- under the age of 72 (retirement at 72 is mandatory).
2008
2008: North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture
On November 4, 2008, Steve Troxler won re-election to the office of North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture. He defeated James Ansley in the general election.
| North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Steve Troxler Incumbent |
52% | 2,130,146 | |
| Democratic | James Ansley | 48% | 1,962,741 | |
| Total Votes | 4,092,887 | |||
| Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections. | ||||
Awards and associations
Professional
- Wake County Bar Association
- Membership Services Committee, CLE Committee, Lunch with a Lawyer program
- Former member, Wake County Board of Directors
- Founding member, Wake County Juvenile Defense Bar
- North Carolina Bar Association
- Former member, Centennial Celebration Committee
- Member/former president, Wake County Academy of Criminal Trial Lawyers
- Chair, Lawyers Referral Service Committee
- Former chair of the Ethics Committee of Juvenile Justice and Children's Rights Section
Community
- 1991-Present: Volunteer Lawyers Program
- 1998: Board of Directors
- Eagle Scout
- Special Olympics sponsor
- Shrine Circus sponsor
- National Council on Agricultural Education
- Future Farmers of America
- Former Board of Directors chairman, Wake Teen Medical Services
- North Carolina State Alumni Association
- American Farmer Degree Recipient
- Fatherhood Development Planning Committee
- Volunteer, Teen Court of Wake County
- North Carolina Citizens for International Understanding
- Fraternal Order of Police sponsor
- International Visitors Council/World Affairs Council
- Volunteer, Parent Teacher Association
- Volunteer, Wake County School[3]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'James Ansley' OR 'Ronnie Ansley' 'North Carolina'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Candidate List Group by Contest," March 4, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Candidate Filing List, 2012 Primary" Scroll to p.51
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ronnie Ansley campaign website, "Candidate Bio," archived August 13, 2014
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Official candidate list," accessed December 23, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: North Carolina," archived October 3, 2014 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "limited" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "limited" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ General Assembly of North Carolina, "Session Law 2015-292: House Bill 8," October 29, 2015
- ↑ The News & Observer, "Veto override means voters will know judges’ party affiliations," March 23, 2017
- ↑ General Assembly of North Carolina, "House Bill 100," accessed May 5, 2017
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly, "Session Law 2018-121, House Bill 717," accessed August 30, 2019
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedgeneral - ↑ North Carolina Bar Association, "Judicial Performance Evaluation Survey," July 2014
- ↑ The News & Observer, "Veto override means voters will know judges’ party affiliations," March 23, 2017
- ↑ General Assembly of North Carolina, "House Bill 100," accessed May 5, 2017
- ↑ North Carolina Board of Elections, "Unofficial Primary Election Results," May 8, 2012
- ↑ North Carolina Bar Association, "Voter Guide for Non-Incumbents," 2012 Scroll to page 7
- ↑ The News & Observer, "Veto override means voters will know judges’ party affiliations," March 23, 2017
- ↑ General Assembly of North Carolina, "House Bill 100," accessed May 5, 2017
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Federal courts:
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina
State courts:
Supreme Court of North Carolina • North Carolina Court of Appeals • North Carolina Superior Courts • North Carolina District Courts
State resources:
Courts in North Carolina • North Carolina judicial elections • Judicial selection in North Carolina
