Candidate for NC Court of Appeals, Democrat Carolyn Thompson, answers our questions
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Candidates for NC Court of Appeals seat 12
Republican Tom Murry is running against Democratic incumbent Carolyn Thompson. 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: Carolyn Thompson
District/seat: NC Court of Appeals seat 12
Political party: Democrat
Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 54
Campaign website: https://judgecarolynthompson.com/
Current occupation: NC Court of Appeals Judge
Professional experience: 24 years of trial and judicial
Education: Hampton University, B.A. in Sociology and Criminal Justice (1990); NCCU School of Law , J.D. (1993)
Please list any notable government or civic involvement. Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She has volunteered for Teen Court and has received numerous awards for her commitment to service.
What areas of the law do you have experience in, as a judge or attorney?
Criminal, civil litigation, appellate, government/public interest, family law and labor/employment.
What would be your top priority if elected?
I have taken an oath to consistently uphold our laws and constitution and have done so my entire career. I intend to stand by my oath.
What is your judicial philosophy?
I believe in equal justice as required by our laws and constitution. True justice is independent of party affiliation, divisive ideologies, and social difference.
Appellate courts often have to consider weighty constitutional issues with widespread public interest. How do you approach legal issues that have strong partisan divides?
I have and will continue to stay focused on the constitution and law and apply to each case without bias or party consideration.
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?
Yes.
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?
The people of our state deserve judges who will consistently uphold the laws and maintain transparency.
