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Sabra Jean Faires
Sabra Jean Faires was a 2016 candidate for the North Carolina Supreme Court. She ran for the seat then held by Robert H. Edmunds, Jr.[1] She was defeated by Justice Edmunds and Judge Michael R. Morgan in the primary election of June 7, 2016.
The 2016 North Carolina Supreme Court election was to have been North Carolina's first-ever retention election, but Faires was a plaintiff in a lawsuit that produced a ruling striking down North Carolina's retention-election law as unconstitutional. The state appealed that ruling; a divided supreme court (3-3) upheld the lower court's ruling.[2] A filing period for a contested election was opened, and Faires filed along with two other challengers to Justice Edmunds.
Faires also was a 2014 judicial candidate for the North Carolina Court of Appeals.[3]
Education
Faires received her bachelor's degree in 1977 from Davidson College. She earned her J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1980.[4]
Career
Faires is of counsel for the firm Bailey & Dixon, LLP.[4] Previously, she has served in various positions as an attorney in the North Carolina state government, including general counsel to North Carolina House co-Speaker Richard Morgan, tax counsel to North Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Marc Basnight, assistant secretary for tax administration at the North Carolina Department of Revenue, and legal staff at the Office of Administrative Hearings.[5]
Awards and associations
Elections
2016
Faires ran for the North Carolina Supreme Court seat then held by Justice Edmunds.[1] She was defeated in the June 7 primary by Justice Edmunds and Judge Michael R. Morgan.
Election results
June 7 primary
| North Carolina Supreme Court Primary, Seat 2, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Robert H. Edmunds, Jr. Incumbent |
48.01% | 235,405 |
| Michael R. Morgan |
34.36% | 168,498 |
| Sabra Jean Faires | 12.04% | 59,040 |
| Daniel G. Robertson | 5.59% | 27,401 |
| Total Votes (2710 of 2710 precincts reporting: 100%) | 490,344 | |
| Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections Official Results | ||
Endorsements
2014
See also: North Carolina judicial elections, 2014
Faires ran for election to the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
General: She was defeated in the general election on November 4, 2014, after receiving 1.4 percent of the vote. She competed against Marion R. Warren, Chuck Winfree, John Marsh Tyson, Elizabeth Davenport Scott, Tricia Shields, Jody Newsome, Marty Martin, Hunter Murphy, Keischa Lovelace, Ann Kirby, Abraham P. Jones, Daniel Patrick Donahue, J. Brad Donovan, Lori G. Christian, Jeffrey M. Cook, Betsy Bunting, John S. Arrowood and Valerie Johnson Zachary.
[3]
Political affiliation
In most states, judges are appointed or elected to the bench without ever declaring a party affiliation. In North Carolina, justices are elected to the state supreme court in nonpartisan elections. To offer more context for court decisions, Ballotpedia collects information that may suggest a judge's or a candidate's political and ideological leanings.
Elections
Faires ran in a nonpartisan election in 2014. She has not been appointed to any position by a partisan official. Faires previously served as counsel to North Carolina House co-Speaker Richard Morgan (R) and North Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Marc Basnight (D).
Voter registration
Faires is a registered independent, unaffiliated with the Republican or Democratic parties.[10]
Political contributions
According to campaign finance records, Faires donated primarily to Democratic candidates prior to running for the North Carolina Supreme Court.[11]
| Year | Race | Candidate | Contribution | Won/Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | North Carolina State Senate | John Kerr (D) | $200 | Won |
| 2012 | North Carolina State Senate | Douglas Berger (D) | $100 | Lost |
| 2012 | North Carolina State Senate | Clark Jenkins (D) | $125 | Won |
| 2014 | North Carolina State Senate | Gale Adcock (D) | $100 | Won |
| 2014 | North Carolina State Senate | Sue Counts (D) | $100 | Lost |
| 2014 | North Carolina Court of Appeals | Sabra Faires (self) | $51,362 | Lost |
| 2014 | North Carolina State Senate | Joel Ford (D) | $100 | Won |
| 2014 | North Carolina Supreme Court | Robin Hudson (nonpartisan) | $200 | Won |
| 2014 | North Carolina State Senate | Elizabeth Redenbaugh (D) | $100 | Lost |
| 2016 | North Carolina State Senate | Sue Counts (D) | $100 | Lost |
Endorsements and scorecards
Faires was endorsed by the Charlotte Observer and the North Carolina AFL-CIO. The latter is a major labor organization which is traditionally a more progressive organization.[8]
See also
- North Carolina judicial elections, 2016
- North Carolina judicial elections, 2014
- North Carolina judicial elections
- North Carolina Court of Appeals
External links
- Sabra Jean Faires, NC Supreme Court
- The Voter Update, “19 candidates running in special election for N.C. Appeals Court seat,” August 9, 2014
- Bailey & Dixon, LLP, "Sabra J. Faires," accessed August 17, 2016
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 North Carolina State Board of Elections, "List of Candidates," accessed March 23, 2016
- ↑ Hastings Tribune, "Court tie means no retention elections for justices, for now," May 6, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 North Carolina State Board of Elections, “Special Election Candidate List,” accessed October 3, 2014
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Martindale.com, "Sabra J. Faires," accessed October 14, 2014
- ↑ Sabra Jean Faires for Justice, "Resume," accessed May 30, 2016
- ↑ The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society, "The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Roster," accessed August 17, 2016
- ↑ Charlotte Observer, "Talented crop running for Supreme Court," May 29, 2016
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 NC State AFL-CIO, "Sabra Faires, Alma Adams, and 10 other things to know about June 7th primary," May 27, 2016
- ↑ ThePilot.com, "Sabra Faires Is Best for Supreme Court," June 1, 2016
- ↑ Citizen-Times, "Tuesday's vote may shift control of N.C. Supreme Court," accessed June 7, 2016
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Faires, Sabra Jean," accessed June 7, 2016
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
