Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Judge Robert C. "Bob" Hunter was sworn in on July 8, 1998 as a Judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals (appointed by Governor Jim Hunt). He has since been elected to serve two eight-year terms, first in November 1998 and again in 2006 (carrying 99 of 100 counties). Since 1998, he has decided over 3,600 cases and personally authored more than 1,200 opinions.

Judge Hunter's storied 40 year career includes 29 years as a practicing attorney and nearly 18 years in the N.C. House. During his House tenure, Judge Hunter chaired a Judiciary Committee, the North Carolina Courts Commission, the Council of State Governments and the Southern Legislative Conference. He also sponsored important legislation such as the N.C. Victims' Rights Bill, the Rural Obstetric Care Incentive Act and highway improvement projects.

Judge Hunter serves on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation and Southmountain Children's Services. He has received awards from McDowell County Family Services (for his defense of battered women and abused children's rights), the McDowell County Council on Aging, and he was selected by the Region C Law Enforcement Association as Legislator of the Year.

Judge Hunter received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was the senior member of the Hunter & Evans, P.A. law firm in Marion, is a former prosecutor and served 24 years as McDowell County Attorney. He is a Rotarian and enjoys hunting, fishing and NASCAR.

Judge Hunter was born in McDowell County and has been married to his wife, Nancy, for 40 years. He is the proud father and grandfather of two daughters and a granddaughter. Judge Hunter is an active member of his church in Marion where he is a Sunday School leader and former trustee.

North Carolinians can be certain that as an Associate Justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court I will protect our Constitutional Rights. It has been a privilege to serve on the North Carolina Court of Appeals the past twelve years. I believe I can continue to best serve as a Supreme Court Justice, and would be honored to receive your vote and support.

I am proud of my record on the Court of Appeals, having decided over 3600 cases and personally authored over 1200 opinions. My judicial reputation has earned me the endorsements of former Supreme Court Chief Justices Burley Mitchell, Henry Frye, and Jim Exum. I have been endorsed by the Police Benevolent Association and the NC Troopers Association, and have also received endorsements from the NC Association of Women Attorneys, the NC Association of Educators, and both the Plaintiff and Defense bar associations. I am honored to have received the support of North Carolinians of all walks of life and political affiliations - as I was in my 2006 re-election when I carried 99 of 100 counties.

As a Supreme Court Justice, I will continue to render balanced, level-headed, and sensible decisions based upon the United States and North Carolina Constitutions. I bring no personal or political agenda to the bench, basing my opinions solely on the facts of each case and the applicable law. I support non-partisan judicial elections and public campaign financing, which eliminates "big money" from judicial races.

Over the course of my career I have been a small business owner, a lawyer, a prosecutor, a NC Representative, a victims' rights champion, and appellate judge. I believe my professional background speaks volumes to my qualifications, and I hope to put my experience to work as your next Supreme Court Justice.

Thank you.