Karen Eady-Williams
Karen Eady-Williams (Democratic Party) is a judge for Judicial District 26F of the North Carolina 5th Superior Court Division. She assumed office on January 1, 2019. Her current term ends on December 31, 2026.
Eady-Williams (Democratic Party) is running for re-election for the Judicial District 26F judge of the North Carolina 5th Superior Court Division. The Democratic primary for this office on March 3, 2026, was canceled.
Eady-Williams was initially appointed to the 7th Superior Court Division Judicial District 26A. In 2018, the North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 717, revising the state superior court, district court, and prosecutorial districts. Eady-Williams' seat on the Seventh Division was absorbed into the Fifth Division.
Biography
Karen Eady-Williams received her B.A. degree from The College of William & Mary in 1989 and her J.D. degree from the Wake Forest University School of Law in 1992.[1]
Eady-Williams began her career as an assistant public defender for the 26th Judicial District. She then worked as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Prior to her judicial appointment, Eady-Williams worked as a vice president and assistant general counsel for Wachovia Corp. She joined the District Court in 2010 and was appointed to the Superior Court in 2017.[2][3]
Elections
2026
See also: Municipal elections in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (2026)
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for North Carolina 5th Superior Court Division Judicial District 26F
Incumbent Karen Eady-Williams (D) is running in the general election for North Carolina 5th Superior Court Division Judicial District 26F on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Karen Eady-Williams (D) | ||
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Democratic primary
The Democratic primary scheduled for March 3, 2026, was canceled. Incumbent Karen Eady-Williams (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina 5th Superior Court Division Judicial District 26F without appearing on the ballot.
Republican primary
The Republican primary scheduled for March 3, 2026, was canceled.
Endorsements
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2018
General election
General election for North Carolina 7th Superior Court Division Judicial District 26
Incumbent Karen Eady-Williams won election in the general election for North Carolina 7th Superior Court Division Judicial District 26 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Karen Eady-Williams (D) | 100.0 | 38,327 | |
| Total votes: 38,327 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2016
North Carolina held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. A primary election took place on March 15, 2016.[4] Incumbent Karen Eady-Williams ran unopposed in the North Carolina Judicial District 26 general election for the Eady-Williams seat.[5]
| North Carolina Judicial District 26 (Eady-Williams Seat), General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Karen Eady-Williams Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 260,402 |
| Total Votes | 260,402 | |
| Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Unofficial election results," accessed November 8, 2016 | ||
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.[6][7][8]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:[6]
- licensed to practice law in the state;
- a district resident; and
- under the age of 72 (retirement at 72 is mandatory).
2012
- See also: North Carolina judicial elections, 2012
Eady-Williams was re-elected to the 26th Judicial District without opposition on November 6, 2012.[9][10]
Judicial candidate survey
The North Carolina Bar Association asked its members to rank incumbent judges with terms ending in 2012 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being "excellent." Below are Eady-Williams' ratings in five categories and overall:
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Mecklenburg County Bar: Karen Eady-Williams
- ↑ The Charlotte Post, "Eady-Williams named District Court judge," February 15, 2010
- ↑ NC Governor Roy Cooper, "Gov. Cooper Announces Judicial Appointments in Three Districts," December 22, 2017
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Election Calendar," accessed December 23, 2015
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Official candidate list," accessed December 23, 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: North Carolina," archived October 3, 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 State Board of Elections: Official 2012 General Election Results
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Candidate Filing List," 2012 Scroll to p.60
- ↑ NC Bar Association: Judicial Performance Evaluation Survey, January 2012 Scroll to p.15
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
