Karl Roth

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Karl Roth

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Eastern Illinois University, 1987

Law

Loyola University Chicago School of Law, 2001

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Marine Corps

Years of service

1990 - 2004

Personal

Birthplace

Chicago, Ill.

Religion

Christian: Lutheran

Profession

Attorney and business owner

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Karl Roth (Republican Party) ran in a special election for the District 10D Seat 3 judge of the North Carolina 10th Judicial District. He lost in the special general election on November 5, 2024.

Roth completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Karl Roth was born in Chicago, Illinois. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1990 to 2004. He earned a bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University in 1987 and a law degree from Loyola University Chicago Law School in 2001. His career experience includes working as an attorney and business owner.

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Wake County, North Carolina (2024)

General election

Special general election for North Carolina District Court District 10D Seat 3

Incumbent Kevin Boxberger defeated Karl Roth in the special general election for North Carolina District Court District 10D Seat 3 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kevin Boxberger (D)	59.2	111,335
		Karl Roth (R)	40.8	76,882

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 188,217
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Roth in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Karl Roth completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Roth's 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 lifelong conservative running for the position of District Court Judge in Wake County, NC for the 10th Judicial District. I have 24 years of experience as a commercial litigation attorney and have handled cases across the U.S., including before future U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson when she served on the D.C. Circuit. My background in manufacturing and construction provides me with practical knowledge to understand the subject matter of complex commercial cases, which ensures reasonable and rationale outcomes.

I serve as court appointed counsel in child support actions in Wake County and am certified as a Superior Court Mediator and Family Financial Mediator by the NC Dispute Resolution Commission.

I am a combat decorated former Marine Corps pilot and served in Iraq completing two tours. During my time in the Marine Corps, I served as a platoon commander, executive officer and KC130 aircraft commander.

I have lived in Wake County since 2010 and have two teenage children attending public school here. I am a former volunteer youth soccer coach and am active in my local community of Holly Springs.

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?

• District Court Judges hear misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases of $25,000 or less and family law cases. These matters affect the citizens of Wake County greatly and require a judge with the temperament and experience to make rationale and just decisions that impartially follow the law.
• There are presently 20 judges serving in the 10th Judicial District. Of those judges, all but three are Democrats, leaving an unbalanced judiciary. The seat for which I am running was held by a Republican for 16 years and the citizenry of Wake County needs a conservative judge to avoid one party dominance.
• A District Court Judge should not make decisions based upon party affiliation and these seats were not political until recent years. That being said, as a conservative Republican, my values are more aligned with my party than those of the Democratic party.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Equal justice under the law and access to competent defense are two key rights that must be preserved along with all the other rights ensured by the Constitution. Government exists to serve the citizenry and all of those who are privileged to serve must respect that concept.

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

Competence, impartiality and faithful allegiance to the law are core principles required of any District Court Judge.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I want to learn about people, their situation and how I can use my experience and skills to help them navigate their legal challenges.

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

To serve the citizenry of Wake County with competence, fairness, empathy and compassion while faithfully applying the law.

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

The magnitude of decisions associated with family law cases cannot be overstated. District Court Judges make decisions affecting child custody and support that change the lives of children and parents. This level of power requires an experienced, reasonable and rationale decision maker...I have that experience.

How would you describe your legal philosophy?

My legal philosophy is that all people should be treated equally under the law.

Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?

Yes.

Have you ever been rated by a Bar Association? If so, what was the rating?

No.

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

Wake County needs balance in its judiciary and presently it is dominated by the Democrat party. Our citizens deserve a conservative voice on the bench.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for a judge to have previous experience in government or politics?

No.

What is your primary concern about today's legal system in your state?

Wake County in particular is not growing to meet the needs of the rapid growth in population and new industries. The system has improved with the implementation of electronic filing; however, cases are often delayed, and thus justice is delayed due to an understaffed and overwhelmed system.

What do you consider the greatest opportunity for the legal system in your state?

With the rapid expansion of industry, NC needs to keep pace and expand to meet the needs of our new citizens and that requires a legal system with judges who have the experience to address issues affecting both business and our new residents.

Would you be interested in serving on a higher court in the future? If so, which court appeals to you?

Yes.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

The books should be open to the public.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2024 Elections

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Candidate

North Carolina District Court District 10D Seat 3

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Footnotes

North Carolina courts

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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