Why is it so difficult to find good information about local judges?

motivez · 10-02-2008, 04:01 PM

I've spent the last hour trying to find information about my districts judges and their judicial philosophies, histories on them, etc..

While I can find the ones for the state's Court of Appeals relatively easily, for the specific district I haven't really been able to find all that much.

Even nccourts.org just lists a description of what the position entails:

District Court Judges

District Court Judges are attorneys who are elected for each district in non-partisan elections for four years and must reside in the district in which they are elected. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina designates one of the judges as Chief District Court Judge, and this judge has administrative duties, including assigning the judges to sessions of court.

Both civil and criminal cases are heard in District Court. Generally, the District Court is the proper division for cases involving amounts in controversy of $10,000 or less. Domestic relations cases involving alimony, child support, child custody, divorce, equitable distribution, and juvenile matters are also heard in this court. In criminal cases, District Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over misdemeanor cases and most traffic offenses.

HughRuss · 10-02-2008, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

I've spent the last hour trying to find information about my districts judges and their judicial philosophies, histories on them, etc..

While I can find the ones for the state's Court of Appeals relatively easily, for the specific district I haven't really been able to find all that much.

Even nccourts.org just lists a description of what the position entails:

E-Mail them.

motivez · 10-02-2008, 04:08 PM

Email who? nccourts.org?

Phantom · 10-02-2008, 05:06 PM

elected judges FTL

judicial philosphy at that level would really be crime & punishment vs. give them another chance, lean in favor of the wife or husband in divorce, business or the little guy etc. You're not going to get that info anywhere but from local attorneys who practice in front of the judges.

For the non-incumbents, I can't imagine what they could run on except maybe the errors of the incumbents (which would be an insane position for an attorney who practices in the district to take)

motivez · 10-02-2008, 05:50 PM

Well I like to know a little bit about who I'm voting for, otherwise, why vote?

Certainly for the court of appeals, etc, I try to find out as much as I can and I have a list with me on election day

Photon1001 · 10-03-2008, 09:56 PM

I always vote against incumbent judges, call it the new blood philosophy.

HughRuss · 10-03-2008, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by Photon1001

I always vote against incumbent judges, call it the new blood philosophy.

That's a very dangerous voting policy.

Photon1001 · 10-04-2008, 12:38 AM

Oh, I know, but its just so hard to find good information about these guys.

HughRuss · 10-04-2008, 12:50 AM

Originally Posted by Photon1001

Oh, I know, but its just so hard to find good information about these guys.

One in my local area put out a publication just ripping into the other candidate. All articles were written by --surprise-- the judge putting out the publication. He's also the incumbent, while the other candidate hasn't served in any office. I thought it was great.