North Carolina Senator wants old senior resident judge selection process back

June 20, 2012

Raleigh, North Carolina: State Senator Wesley Meredith has introduced legislation that would change the way senior resident judges are chosen in the North Carolina Superior Courts. The law used to call for an automatic promotion of the longest-serving judge in the district to the senior resident judge position. The senior resident judge handles administrative duties. Two years ago, the law was changed to state that the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court has the power to appoint the senior resident judge. Sen. Meredith wants to revert back to the automatic selection method.

When Cumberland County (12th Judicial District) Superior Court Judge Gregory A. Weeks retires at the end of the year, the senior resident position will be up for grabs. The proposed legislation favors Judge James "Jim" Ammons for the promotion since he has the most seniority.

However, if the legislation is not passed, Judge Mary Ann Tally might have a chance at the promotion. Judge Ammons was censured by the Supreme Court in 1996 and reprimanded by the Judicial Standards Commission last year. These incidents might count against him if Chief Justice Sarah Parker gets to make the appointment.

Sen. Meredith says he did not file the bill to help Judge Ammons, but to take the politics out of the selection process.