Candidate for NC Superior Court judge, Republican Graham Shirley, answers our questions
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Candidates for NC Superior Court judge, District 10F, Seat 1
Democrat Jennifer Bedford is running against Republican incumbent Graham Shirley. Get to know the candidates with our 2024 NC Voter Guide.
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To help inform voters in 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: Graham Shirley
District/seat: Superior Court District 10F, Seat 1 (Wake County)
Political party: Republican
Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 61
Campaign website: https://www.grahamshirley.org/
Current occupation: Superior Court Judge
Professional experience: I served on active duty in the U.S. Army as a JAG officer, where among other things I prosecuted offenses up to and including murder. After completion of my active duty service I practiced for 22 years in Wake County Superior Court with a practice focus on complex commercial and construction litigation. Since 2015, I have presided as a Superior Court Judge in Wake County over criminal cases up to and including murder as well as complex civil cases.
Education: B.A. in History from the Virginia Military Institute; J.D. from the College of William and Mary
Please list any notable government or civic involvement. U.S. Army veteran; Superior Court judge; former member and Chair of the Raleigh Arts Commission; volunteered with StepUp Ministries and Pride for Parents through the Encouraging Place.
What areas of the law do you have experience in, as a judge or attorney?
Criminal and civil litigation.
What is your judicial philosophy?
To follow and fairly administer the law without favor or bias in order to make sure all who appear before me are treated equally.
Tell us about a specific event in your legal career of which you are most proud.
At the onset of COVID I was tasked with taking the lead in working with our judicial staff to develop and implement a plan for continuity of court operations. After only three days of downtime in our Superior Civil courtrooms we were able to resume courtroom operations for non-jury matters .
What is one of the biggest issues facing the judicial branch in NC and what should be done to address it?
Lack of access to representation for low-income litigants in the civil courts, making it difficult for them to navigate an often complex system. Increased support for organizations such as Legal Aid of North Carolina would have a two-fold benefit. First, it would help the litigants navigate the court system more easily, which would in turn allow court staff to focus on their core responsibilities.
This story was originally published October 9, 2024 at 11:25 AM with the headline "Candidate for NC Superior Court judge, Republican Graham Shirley, answers our questions."
