Robert T. Sumner
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2020
Robert T. Sumner is a superior court judge for District 27A of the Seventh Division of the Superior Court, serving Gaston County in North Carolina. He was appointed in November 2010 by former Governor Bev Perdue to succeed Timothy L. Patti. He was elected in 2012.[1][2]
The North Carolina Superior Courts are split into five divisions and 48 districts. Superior court judges rotate among the districts within their division every six months.[3] However, superior court judges are elected by voters in their district and must reside in the district in which they are elected.[4]
Education
Sumner received both his undergraduate degree and his J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[1]
Career
Sumner has spent his legal career in private practice.[1]
2012 election
Sumner was elected to the Superior Court without opposition on Nov. 6, 2012.[2][5]
- See also: North Carolina judicial elections, 2012
Judicial candidate survey
The North Carolina Bar Association asked its members to rank incumbent judges running for re-election on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being "excellent." Below are Sumner's ratings in five categories and overall:
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Noteworthy cases
Charlotte Airport bill
On July 18, 2013, the North Carolina State Senate voted to transfer the control of Charlotte Douglas International Airport from the city of Charlotte to an independent regional airport authority. Within minutes before the bill would have become law, Judge Sumner issued a temporary order blocking the move. The request for a temporary reprieve was brought on behalf of Charlotte city officials who believe that the transfer would hurt the city's investments in the airport. Charlotte Douglas International is the sixth-busiest airport in the United States and is United Airways' largest hub. The Charlotte airport bill was drafted to address concerns involving lapses in the management of the airport and related concerns bought up by United Airways.[7] In their motion for the temporary restraining order, the city expressed concern that the bill would cause "immediate, irreparable, and even catastrophic injury to Charlotte, the Airport, and the residents and businesses who depend on orderly operation of the Airport," and that the transfer would in effect be a taking of the city's property by the state without just compensation.[8] The temporary restraining order puts the law on hold for ten days until the hearing which is scheduled for July 29.[8][9]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Office of the Governor, Press Release: "Gov. Perdue Appoints Sumner to Superior Court," November 4, 2010
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 North Carolina State Board of Elections: November 6, 2012 General Election - Official Results
- ↑ North Carolina Judicial Branch, "North Carolina Superior Court: About," accessed October 9, 2019
- ↑ North Carolina Judicial Branch, "Court Officials: Superior Court Judges," accessed October 9, 2019
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Candidate Filing List," 2012 Scroll to p.45
- ↑ NC Bar Association: Judicial Performance Evaluation Survey, January 2012 Scroll to p.6
- ↑ [Judge blocks takeover of Charlotte's airport USA Today.com, "Judge blocks takeover of Charlotte's airport," July 19, 2013]
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 News Observer.com, "Airport bill passes, but judge halts authority switch," July 18, 2013
- ↑ WSOCTV.com, "Senate approves airport authority, judge issues temporary restraining order," July 18, 2013
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
