Candidate for NC Court of Appeals, Democrat Martin Moore, answers our questions
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Candidates for NC Court of Appeals seat 15
Republican Chris Freeman is running against Democrat Martin Moore, after Freeman defeated the incumbent, Judge Hunter Murphy, in a Republican primary. Get to know the candidates with our 2024 NC Voter Guide.
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To help inform voters about the Nov. 5, 2024, election, this candidate questionnaire is available to be republished by local publications in North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The News & Observer to help make this coverage possible.
Name: Martin Moore
District/seat: NC Court of Appeals seat 15
Political party: Democrat
Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 36
Campaign website: www.MartinForJudge.com
Current occupation: Buncombe County Commissioner and Appellate Attorney
Professional experience: Assistant Public Defender - Buncombe County Office of the Public Defender; Associate Attorney - Van Winkle, Buck, Wall, Starnes, & Davis | Current: Attorney - The Law Office of Martin E. Moore, PLLC; County Commissioner (District 2) - Buncombe County
Education: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; UNC School of Law
Please list any notable government or civic involvement. Buncombe County - Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (former Chair); Early Childhood Education Committee (Chair), A-B Tech Joint Capital Committee (Chair)
What areas of the law do you have experience in, as a judge or attorney?
Criminal, civil litigation, appellate, government/public interest, insurance, labor/employment, intellectual property.
What would be your top priority if elected?
My top priority would be working toward a Court of Appeals that will assure equal justice for all.
What is your judicial philosophy?
My judicial philosophy will be to focus on rule of law and to commit to keeping an open mind, focusing on integrity and transparency in my decision-making.
Appellate courts often have to consider weighty constitutional issues with widespread public interest. How do you approach legal issues that have strong partisan divides?
The people of NC deserve judges who are willing to recognize what the Constitution requires, remain objective, and fairly reflect the values of the people. Inevitably, when a case puts the Constitution in conflict with unconstitutional extremism, there will be partisan division. In those cases, being transparent in our decision-making and demonstrating a strong record of serving with integrity become key in maintaining public trust.
The NC Code of Judicial Conduct has not been updated since 2020. Do you think any changes to the code or its enforcement are necessary?
As an appellate attorney and elected official, I believe that we have seen unprecedented changes in the role the courts play in our daily lives. While the North Carolina Supreme Court is responsible for the Code of Judicial Conduct, I see value in routinely refining the code and its processes to require the highest level of integrity, fairness and nonpartisan enforcement. The code should be a clear, apolitical set of rules that apply to judges regardless of political party or affiliation.
Public opinion polls show that Americans’ trust in the U.S. Supreme Court is near an all-time low. What should be done in NC to increase/maintain confidence in our state’s appellate courts?
Trust is earned through well-reasoned, transparent, and fair rulings. I believe it is critical that our courts demonstrate the highest levels of integrity and focus on assuring that extremism and partisanship do not make their way into their opinions.
