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Lunsford Long
Lunsford Long is a former district court judge for the 15B Judicial District, serving Orange and Chatham counties of North Carolina.[1] He was appointed to the court by former Governor Bev Perdue in August of 2009 to replace Alonzo B. Coleman, Jr. Long was elected to a full term on the court in November 2012.[2][3] He ran for re-election on November 8, 2016, but was defeated.
Education
Long received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[2]
Career
Long began his career as a research assistant for Associate Justice Huskins of the North Carolina Supreme Court. He then worked as an assistant district attorney of the 15th Judicial District from 1973 until 1976, when he became a private practice attorney. He was a partner with the firm of Epting, Hackney and Long and then with Long and Long. He is also a certified mediator.[2]
Elections
2016
North Carolina held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. A primary election took place on March 15, 2016.[4] Sherri Murrell defeated incumbent Lunsford Long in the North Carolina Judicial District 15B general election for the Long seat.[5]
| North Carolina Judicial District 15B (Long Seat), General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Sherri Murrell |
75.82% | 72,383 |
| Lunsford Long Incumbent | 24.18% | 23,081 |
| Total Votes | 95,464 | |
| 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
Long was re-elected to the 15B 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 Long's ratings in five categories and overall:
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See also
- North Carolina judicial elections, 2012
- North Carolina District Courts
- Judicial selection in North Carolina
External links
- The North Carolina Court System, "Chatham County - District 15B"
- The North Carolina Court System, "Orange County - District 15B"
Footnotes
- ↑ The North Carolina Court System: Judicial Directory, Hon. William L. Long, III
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Independent Weekly, "Gov. Perdue appoints Lunsford Long to District 15B bench," August 25, 2009
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, Lists of Judges and Term Expiration Dates Scroll to p.10
- ↑ 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.54
- ↑ NC Bar Association: Judicial Performance Evaluation Survey, January 2012 Scroll to p.11
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
