Candidate for NC Court of Appeals, Democrat Ed Eldred, answers our questions
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Candidates for NC Court of Appeals seat 14
Democrat Ed Eldred is running against Republican incumbent Valerie Zachary. 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: Ed Eldred
District/seat: NC Court of Appeals seat 14
Political party: Democrat
Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 51
Campaign website: www.eldredforjudge.com
Current occupation: Attorney
Professional experience: Law Clerk, Judge Linda Stephens (NC Court of Appeals); Law Clerk, Chief Judge John C. Martin (NC Court of Appeals); Associate, Wyrick Robbins (Appellate Practice Group); Solo Practitioner; Parry Law.
Education: UNC-CH, BA, 1995 (English & History); UNC-CH, JD with honors, 2006
Please list any notable government or civic involvement. Judicial District 18 Mentoring Program; Carrboro Planning Board; Youth Softball and Basketball Coach; Mental Health Association of the Triangle.
What areas of the law do you have experience in, as a judge or attorney?
Criminal, civil litigation, appellate and family law.
What would be your top priority if elected?
My top priority will be to protect and defend all of our constitutional rights by ruling fairly and impartially in well-reasoned written opinions.
What is your judicial philosophy?
Equal justice under law. Put another way, no one is above the law.
Appellate courts often have to consider weighty constitutional issues with widespread public interest. How do you approach legal issues that have strong partisan divides?
There is no place for partisan politics in the courtroom. The law applies the same to Democrat and Republican alike. I understand a large swath of the public does not believe judges ignore partisan divides, and there are recent examples that could support that belief. I will approach divisive legal issues by carefully considering the law and constitution and staying true to the system’s overarching principle: equal justice under law.
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?
Our Code of Judicial Conduct — written by the North Carolina Supreme Court — speaks only to what a judge “should” or “may” do. It never says what a judge “must” do. And because our constitution vests general supervision and control over the judiciary in the Supreme Court, only they have the power to decide where the code has been violated. Who watches the watchers? I believe clear guidelines and requirements would be an improvement and would serve to increase the public trust in our courts.
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 in the courts can be regained when the public sees the courts faithfully applying the law without fear or favor. Faith in the judiciary is shaken when courts issue poorly reasoned or obviously partisan decisions — or when a court issues an impactful order without giving any reasons at all. We deserve judges that operate with transparency and, just like the people who appear before them, are held accountable for their actions.
