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Donnie Hoover
Donnie Hoover (Democratic Party) was a judge for Judicial District 26E of the North Carolina 5th Superior Court Division. He was appointed to the court in 2018 by Governor Roy Cooper and assumed office on January 1, 2019. He retired from the court on November 30, 2021.
Hoover (Democratic Party) ran for re-election for judge of the North Carolina 7th Superior Court Division Judicial District 26. He won in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Hoover was initially a judge on the Seventh Division of the Superior Court in North Carolina. In 2018, the North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 717, revising the state superior court, district court, and prosecutorial districts. Hoover's seat on the Seventh Division was absorbed into the Fifth Division.
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.[1] However, superior court judges are elected by voters in their district and must reside in the district in which they are elected.[2]
Education
Hoover graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the North Carolina Central University School of Law.[3]
Career
Hoover began his career as a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. There, he became the assistant branch director before moving to North Carolina. He then worked as a private practice lawyer for over 24 years prior to becoming a judge in 2008.[3]
Elections
2018
General election
General election for North Carolina 7th Superior Court Division Judicial District 26
Incumbent Donnie Hoover won election in the general election for North Carolina 7th Superior Court Division Judicial District 26 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Donnie Hoover (D) | 100.0 | 34,629 |
| Total votes: 34,629 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
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2016
North Carolina held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. A primary election took place on March 15, 2016.[4] Incumbent Donnie Hoover ran unopposed in the North Carolina Judicial District 26 general election for the Hoover seat.[5]
| North Carolina Judicial District 26 (Hoover Seat), General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Donnie Hoover Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 252,285 |
| Total Votes | 252,285 | |
| 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
Hoover was re-elected to the 26th Judicial District on November 6, 2012, defeating Alyson G. Traw with 56.81 percent of the vote.[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 Hoover's ratings in five categories and overall:
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Endorsements
- North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys[12]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Hoover Law Firm: Judge Donnie Hoover campaign website: Background
- ↑ 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.60
- ↑ NC Bar Association: Judicial Performance Evaluation Survey, January 2012 Scroll to p.15
- ↑ North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys: 2012 endorsement announcement
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
