Brunswick County: Electing Judges

Brunswick County, North Carolina, is located within the North Carolina District Court judicial district 13 and the North Carolina Superior Court Fourth Division. North Carolina is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. The state holds local trial court judicial elections annually. The judges of the North Carolina Superior Courts and District Courts are chosen through partisan elections. Superior Court judges are elected to eight-year terms, while District Court judges serve four-year terms. In Brunswick County, the Election Day polling place management team consists of one chief judge and two judges. These three individuals are recommended by the county's political parties and are appointed to 2-year terms that begin in August of odd-numbered years.

North Carolina Superior Court judges are chosen through partisan elections

Brunswick County in North Carolina will hold its next general election on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

North Carolina is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. North Carolina Superior Court judges are chosen through partisan elections. Partisan elections are held in even-numbered years, and judges are elected to eight-year terms. If they wish to serve again, they must run for re-election.

To run for judge in North Carolina, a candidate must be at least 21 years old, a registered voter, and a resident of the district in which they are seeking election at the time of filing. Candidates may file their declarations of candidacy between the second Monday in February and the last business day in February. The filing fees for judicial candidates amount to approximately 1% of the annual salary for the office sought by the candidates. However, in lieu of this fee, a candidate may file a petition signed by at least 5% of the registered voters in the area in which the candidate is seeking election.

North Carolina District Court judges are chosen through partisan elections

Brunswick County, North Carolina, is located within the North Carolina District Court judicial district 13 and the North Carolina Superior Court Fourth Division.

North Carolina is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. North Carolina District Court judges are chosen through partisan elections. District judges serve four-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to remain on the court.

In North Carolina, there are three federal district courts, a state supreme court, a state court of appeals, and trial courts with both general and subject matter jurisdiction.

The state's court system is as follows:

• Supreme Court of North Carolina
• North Carolina Court of Appeals
• North Carolina Superior Courts
• Limited jurisdiction courts
• North Carolina District Courts

As of April 2023, all North Carolina judges were chosen through partisan elections. Under the North Carolina Constitution, judges' terms begin on January 1 following their election or re-election.

The seven justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court are chosen through partisan elections. Justices are elected to eight-year terms and must face re-election if they wish to serve again. The chief justice of the supreme court is elected by voters to serve in that capacity for an eight-year term.

The 15 judges of the North Carolina Court of Appeals are chosen through partisan elections. Judges are elected to eight-year terms and must face re-election if they wish to serve again. These elections were non-partisan from 2004 until a law passed in 2016 made them partisan again, beginning in 2018.

The judges of the North Carolina Superior Courts are chosen through partisan elections. Judges are elected to eight-year terms and must face re-election if they wish to serve again. The senior resident judge of each superior court is chosen by seniority and serves indefinitely. The judge manages the administrative duties of the court.

North Carolina has one type of limited jurisdiction court: the North Carolina District Courts. The judges of the North Carolina District Courts are chosen through partisan elections. District judges serve four-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to remain on the court.

Brunswick County is in North Carolina District Court District 15

Brunswick County, North Carolina, is located within the North Carolina District Court judicial district 13 and the North Carolina Superior Court Fourth Division. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina has jurisdiction in Brunswick County, and appeals from the Eastern District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

In August 2023, Governor Roy Cooper appointed Heath Nance to serve as a district court judge in Judicial District 13, which includes Bladen, Brunswick, and Columbus Counties.

In Brunswick County, there are three voting methods available to voters. The county held a primary election on March 5, 2024, a second primary election on May 14, 2024, and will hold a general election on November 5, 2024.

Brunswick County Courthouse information

Brunswick County, North Carolina, is located within the North Carolina District Court judicial district 13 and the North Carolina Superior Court Fourth Division. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina has jurisdiction in Brunswick County, with appeals going to the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.

The county holds elections for various positions, including municipal, district, and state-level offices. In even-numbered years, a primary election is held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in March, followed by a general election on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. In odd-numbered years, municipal elections are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

The Brunswick County Courthouse has a management team consisting of one chief judge and two judges, appointed to 2-year terms beginning in August of odd-numbered years. These individuals are recommended by the county's political parties. The chief judge is in charge of the polling place, while the two election judges assist them. Additionally, there are election assistants who perform various functions under the direction of the chief judge.

To become a poll worker in Brunswick County, individuals must be registered voters in the county, be at least 18 years old, and have good communication and customer service skills. They must also undergo training, including orientation and online learning classes. Poll workers earn at least $150 for Election Day work and gain valuable experience and community service.

For registered voters in Brunswick County, it is essential to know your designated Election Day precinct, which can be found using the Voter Lookup Tool, your registration card, or by contacting the Board of Elections office. On Election Day, voters must bring a photo ID, sign an Authorization to Vote (ATV) document, and follow the voting process as directed by precinct officials.

North Carolina holds partisan elections for judges

North Carolina is one of 11 states that use partisan elections to select judges. As of April 2023, all North Carolina judges were chosen through partisan elections. Under the North Carolina Constitution, judges' terms begin on January 1 following their election or re-election.

The state's judges are elected to eight-year terms and must face re-election if they wish to serve again. To run for judge in North Carolina, a candidate must be at least 21 years old, a registered voter, and a resident of the district in which they seek to run at the time of filing.

The seven justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court, the 15 judges of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and the judges of the North Carolina Superior Courts and District Courts are all chosen through partisan elections.

The state holds partisan elections in even-numbered years. The next general election in Brunswick County, North Carolina, will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

Frequently asked questions