Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

John R Sutton, Jr. has been practicing law in Western North Carolina since September 2000. John has litigated cases in every level of our legal system, from Small Claims Court to the United States Supreme Court.

John is licensed to practice law in the State of North Carolina, United States Federal Court, Western District, 4th Circuit United States Court of Appeals, the United States Supreme Court and, the Cherokee Supreme Court of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

John is joined in the practice of law by his wife, April Burt Sutton and his sister, Emily Sutton Dezio. John's father, John R. Sutton, Sr. retired in 2006, but remains of counsel to The Sutton Firm, P.A.

John is a member of the American Bar Association, the North Carolina Bar Association and the Academy of Trial Lawyers.

John graduated with Honors from St. Thomas School of Law in May, 2000, and from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May, 1996, with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications.

Born and raised in Candler, North Carolina, John attended Enka High School and graduated in May 1992. John and April were married in 2001. John and April have two children, Lilyan (age 7) and Abigail (age 6).

I am proud to call Buncombe County my home where I was born, educated and raised and where my wife, April, and I have chosen to raise our family and practice law together. Like many fellow citizens of Western North Carolina, there is no other place I would rather live. I truly believe that it is the people, through their dedication and service to community, that make this place so uniquely wonderful. It is this foundation upon which I base my decision to run for the office of Clerk of Court of Buncombe County.

For the past ten years, April and I have had the honor and privilege to represent, advise, defend and serve thousands of clients through The Sutton Firm. As a general practice firm, our clients come from all walks of life and with every type of legal issue imaginable. Often, this was their first experience with our court system and it was our duty to act as a guide to the courthouse while protecting their rights and interests. These experiences have taught me that people - whether they are handling a minor traffic citation, a civil suit, or a jury service - still expect justice and due process from the court house.

The ideal of justice is not out-dated. But, when there are deficiencies in the areas of accessibility and efficiency, justice may be seen by some as sluggish. It is the duty and the responsibility of the Clerk of Court to advance along with our community's natural growth in all areas ranging from technological improvements to legislative amendments.

In fulfilling this duty, I will provide a fresh perspective. I look forward to working hard to make the Buncombe County Courthouse a leader, locally and regionally, in the delivery of justice to the citizens of Buncombe County. I seek your support, your comments, and your vote in this endeavor.