One justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court and six judges of the North Carolina Court of Appeals were elected to eight-year terms by North Carolina voters on November 4, 2008. This coincided with the Presidential , U.S. Senate , U.S. House , Gubernatorial , Council of State , State Senate , and State House elections.
North Carolina judicial elections are non-partisan. Primary elections were held on May 6, 2008, for seats with more than two candidates running. The top two vote-getters in the primary, regardless of party affiliation, advanced to the general election.[ 1]
Despite the non-partisan nature of the elections, candidates' party affiliations were well known. As a result of the elections, the Republicans maintained their 4–3 majority on the state Supreme Court. Democrats maintained their majority on the Court of Appeals. Only one Republican (Robert Hunter Jr. ) defeated a Democrat in a Court of Appeals race.[ 2]
[ edit ] Incumbent Robert Edmunds Jr. [ 3] [ 4] Suzanne Reynolds [ 5] Wake Forest University Law School.[ 6]
[ edit ] Incumbent James Andrew Wynn [ 8] [ 9]
Wynn and Farlow advanced to the November general election. Wynn won approximately 48 percent of the vote in the primary, followed by Farlow (37 percent) and Poirier (15 percent).[ 10]
[ edit ] Incumbent Douglas McCullough [ 13] Cheri Beasley .[ 14]
[ edit ] Incumbent John Martin , the court's Chief Judge, ran for re-election unopposed.[ 16]
[ edit ] Incumbent Linda Stephens ran for election, having been appointed in 2007.[ 18] Dan Barrett .
[ edit ] Incumbent John Arrowood ,[ 20] Robert Hunter Jr. [ 21]
[ edit ] Incumbent John Tyson [ 23] [ 24] Kristin Ruth ,[ 25] [ 26] Sam Ervin IV .[ 27]
In the May 6 primary, Ervin led the field with 37 percent of the vote, followed by Ruth (26 percent), Tyson (22 percent), and Pueschel (16 percent). Ervin and Ruth advanced to the November general election.[ 28]
^ "Primary Election Voter Guide" . Archived from the original on April 18, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2008 .^ AP: GOP maintains edge on Supreme Court Archived 2017-04-25 at the Wayback Machine ^ "Biography" . www.nccourts.org . Archived from the original on April 18, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2025 .^ "Edmunds will run in 2008 | newsobserver.com projects" . Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2007 .^ "Suzanne Reynolds for NC Supreme Court - suzannereynolds.org" . Archived from the original on September 3, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2019 .^ "Reynolds v. Edmunds for Supreme Court | newsobserver.com projects" . Archived from the original on October 19, 2008. Retrieved November 14, 2007 .^ "11/04/2008 Official General Election Results - Statewide" . North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 31, 2025 .^ "Announcements | Judge Wynn" . Archived from the original on February 8, 2008. Retrieved February 16, 2008 .^ "Candidate Listing" . Archived from the original on February 19, 2008. Retrieved March 1, 2008 .^ "newsobserver.com | Wynn leads, but Tyson trails" . Archived from the original on October 28, 2008. Retrieved June 3, 2025 .^ "05/06/2008 Official Primary Election Results - Statewide" . North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 31, 2025 .^ "11/04/2008 Official General Election Results - Statewide" . North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 31, 2025 .^ "Biography" . Archived from the original on October 27, 2004. Retrieved February 13, 2008 .^ "Judge Cheri Beasley - Home" . Archived from the original on May 2, 2008. Retrieved June 3, 2025 .^ "11/04/2008 Official General Election Results - Statewide" . North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 31, 2025 .^ "Judge John Martin NC Court of Appeals" . Archived from the original on October 19, 2008. Retrieved February 16, 2008 .^ "11/04/2008 Official General Election Results - Statewide" . North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 31, 2025 .^ "Judge Linda Stephens for NC Court of Appeals" . Archived from the original on November 8, 2006. Retrieved June 3, 2025 .^ "11/04/2008 Official General Election Results - Statewide" . North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 31, 2025 .^ "Committee to Keep Judge Arrowood" . Archived from the original on July 3, 2008. Retrieved February 16, 2008 .^ "Not that Bob Hunter | newsobserver.com projects" . Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved February 16, 2008 .^ "11/04/2008 Official General Election Results - Statewide" . North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 31, 2025 .^ "Biography" . www.nccourts.org . Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2025 .^ "Archived copy" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2008 .{{cite web }}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link )^ "Judge Kristin Ruth to Run for NC Court of Appeals | Judge Kristin H. Ruth" . Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved September 14, 2007 .^ "Judges jump in race | newsobserver.com projects" . Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2007 .^ "Ervin campaign site" . Archived from the original on October 28, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2008 .^ Morganton News-Herald: Tyson loses bid to retain seat on Court of Appeals [permanent dead link ^ "05/06/2008 Official Primary Election Results - Statewide" . North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 31, 2025 .^ "11/04/2008 Official General Election Results - Statewide" . North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 31, 2025 .
