Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Judge Phil Ginn was raised in Boone and graduated from Watauga High School and Appalachian State University. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Since 2003, Ginn has served as a Resident Superior Court Judge in North Carolina's 24th judicial district, encompassing Avery, Madison, Mitchell, Yancey and Watauga Counties.

Prior to serving as a Superior Court Judge, he served as a District Court Judge for 10 years in the same judicial district. With more than 32 years of collective legal experience, Ginn's credentials also include serving as the Town of Boone's attorney and as legal counsel for the N.C. Baptist Foundation. He presently serves as a board member for the N.C. Conference of Superior Court Judges and has also served for several years as a member of the N.C. Courts Commission. A certified superior court mediator, Ginn also was in private practice in Boone and in Morganton.  

In his private life, Ginn continues to influence the area positively, having served as executive committee chairman for the High Country Festival with Franklin Graham, and as a current member of the board of trustees of the North Carolina Baptist Foundation. Active with Samaritan's Purse and local churches, Ginn has served as a member of the board of trustees for Mars Hill College and the Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina and what was then The General Board of the Baptist State Convention.

Ginn is continuing his education at Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, where he has completed his course work toward a doctor of ministry degree in apologetics.

Phil and his wife, Lynn, have four daughters: Ashley, 27, Tracey Amerson (husband-Asheton), 25, Julie, 22, and Jodie, 20, and are the proud grandparents of Bailey Lynn Amerson, 1. 

I believe we are all called to be in service to our country, state, and to our neighbors, whether we help in small ways or more visible ones. Like many of you, the events of Sept. 11, 2001, especially motivated me to do this.  In my service as a Superior Court Judge in the 24th District for the last seven years, I believe that I have fulfilled this calling on my life and hope to continue to do so after the November election.

If I am fortunate enough to be re-elected this fall, I will by law become the Senior Resident Judge. This position involves a great deal of administrative work, in addition to actual courtroom proceedings.  I have observed and interacted with current Senior Resident Judge Jim Baker as he has ably guided the district these past years and have learned from him the important aspects of administering our courts.

I have also developed some new concepts, like a district-wide Web site that I believe will add efficiency to our legal system and greater accessibility and understanding for everyone. In addition to providing all relevant court information and rules for court officials, attorneys, litigants, law enforcement and court personnel, this new site would feature timely updates on schedules to improve case flow and convenience within the system. If re-elected, I'll look to technology to help us be innovative in providing information for people in contact with our courts.

I have been truly blessed by you, the voters, to do a job that I enjoy, and I believe that a  positive difference has been made in the lives of those whom I serve. I hope now that you will join with me again this November as we work together to shape a better, and safer, future for all our families.