Progress NC Action, partner organizations take call for ‘Fair Courts Now’ across North Carolina
Progress North Carolina Action, along with other pro-democracy groups, nonprofit and faith leaders, and legal scholars gathered this week to demand judicial reforms to ensure our state’s courts are free of partisanship.
Tuesday in downtown Raleigh marked the first “Fair Courts” event that is part of a statewide tour to bring the message of reforming state courts to the people of North Carolina. Another event was held on Thursday in Greensboro and more are scheduled for Charlotte, Asheville, Fayetteville and Wilmington.
The Fair Courts NC public accountability campaign is calling for common-sense reforms to help contain the partisanship being seen in our courts:
- Allow judges to, once again, run for election free of having a political party ID attached to their name. Judges should not be forced to be partisan.
- Ban judges who are not on the ballot from partisan political activity such as endorsing and fundraising for other candidates as we’ve seen with Chief Justice Paul Newby and Justice Phil Berger Jr.
- Establish clear ethics rules banning judges from hearing cases involving friends and family members.
“With a nation deeply entrenched in partisan divisions, the integrity of our state courts is more imperative than ever,” said Fair Courts NC spokesperson and director of North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections, Melissa Price Kromm. “North Carolinians deserve state courts and judges that are fair, impartial, and independent.”
Fair Courts NC has created a three-point plan for elected leaders, candidates and voters to sign. The plan is available on the Fair Courts NC website.
