'Special-interest specter' enters judicial races

For the first time in North Carolina judicial politics, a 527 group, a tax-exempt organization aimed at influencing elections, will step into the fray.

In a news release sent out Thursday, former N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Burley Mitchell announced the creation of FairJudges.net, which will start running television spots next week.

"This is all about educating the people of North Carolina," Mitchell said in the release. "Ensuring that we have fair-minded people in these judgeships is crucial."

It was unclear which judges will benefit from the television ads, although Chief Justice Sarah Parker is thought to be one of them. The group's news release said it will focus on "judges who represent various backgrounds and political orientation and who are dedicated to fairness."

Mitchell added late Thursday; "We're not endorsing. We're not supporting. It's just positive information."

FairJudges.net has reported to the IRS that it has raised $25,000 from lawyers, including $11,900 from the N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Chris Heagarty, executive director of the N.C. Center for Voter Education, said state law prohibits 527s from using money from corporations, labor unions or trade associations to run television ads 60 days before a general election.

"527 activity is a new political frontier," he said. "There are a lot gray areas about what is permitted and what is not permitted."

Former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr said, "527s seem to beget other 527s. It increases the special-interest specter into these races more than they even have been in the past. I find it fairly troubling from a good government standpoint."

Parker's opponent, Rusty Duke, a Pitt County Superior Court judge, said he thinks it is an effort by lawyers to run the courts, rather than judges.

"They call it fairness," he said. "But I think people expect judges to run the courts, not lawyers."

Exum joins Elon Law

James G. Exum Jr., former chief justice of the N.C. Supreme Court, has been named Distinguished Jurist in Residence at the Elon University School of Law. Exum is also among the charter members of the law school's advisory board.

The law school opened in Greensboro in August.

Exum, a lawyer at Smith Moore LLP in Greensboro, served on the Supreme Court from 1974 to 1994. He was chief justice from 1986 to 1994.

Exum will help with appellate practice instruction and teach courses such as legal skills, professional responsibility and legal ethics.

Exum said in a news release that he would divide his time between Smith Moore and the law school.

UNC Health Care appointee

Robert Seymour, a well-known liberal and retired minister of Chapel Hill's Binkley Memorial Baptist Church, has been named to the board of the UNC Health Care system.

The UNC Board of Governors approved the appointment last week.

Seymour will represent community interests on the board of UNC Health Care, which has been the target of critics who say the system is turning away from its long-standing mission to treat the state's poor. In the summer, a petition signed by 1,100 people charged that the system's attention to the bottom line prevents some poor patients from getting care.

That petition was taken seriously by UNC President Erskine Bowles, who urged UNC Health Care chief executive Dr. William Roper to make changes, which were announced in August. Among the changes was a promise to appoint community representatives to the health care board, now dominated by business types.

Seymour has long been known for his commitment to causes of social justice. During his tenure at Binkley, the church welcomed gay people, encouraged racial integration and promoted women in leadership roles.