Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Judge Barbara Jackson grew up in Raleigh and is a candidate for election to the Supreme Court of North Carolina. 

After earning her bachelors and law degrees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Judge Jackson clerked for former Chief Justice Burley Mitchell, Jr. at the North Carolina Supreme Court. 

She then went on to serve as associate general counsel in Governor Jim Martin's administration, working on issues such as the Voting Rights Act and Executive Clemency. 

Near the end of the Martin administration, she joined the Governor's Advocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities where she spent four years representing clients with disabilities from Henderson to New Hanover County and from Hertford to Mecklenburg County as part of a statewide practice.

Judge Jackson spent the next four years in private practice focusing on the areas of land use and municipal law before joining Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry as General Counsel. 

In 2004, Judge Jackson was elected to the North Carolina Court of Appeals where she has ruled in over 1,500 cases, authoring over 500 of those opinions. 

Judge Jackson's widely varied and extensive experience in many areas of the law including criminal, labor, employment, education, and civil rights will serve her well on the Supreme Court of North Carolina.  Judge Jackson is a widely-respected jurist who has firm respect for the rule of law and the role of judges.

Twenty years ago, I began my legal career at the Supreme Court of North Carolina.  My experience led me down the path of service to the people of North Carolina and I am proud of my record as a Judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals.  I am now in my 5th year of service as a Judge on the Court of Appeals and I can think of no better way to continue serving my state and my fellow citizens than to return to the Supreme Court as a Justice.

The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the highest court in North Carolina; its Justices must possess both the necessary judicial temperament and a wide range of legal experience.  As the guardian of the state's constitution, I firmly believe that the Supreme Court of North Carolina is no place for judicial activism. It is the sole duty of the judicial branch to judge fairly and impartially, within the limitations provided by the constitution and laws of the state.  Put simply, I believe that legislators should legislate and judges should judge.  By putting these beliefs into practice as a judge, I hope I have gained a reputation as a fair, thoughtful jurist who has the utmost respect for the rule of law.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about my campaign.  For more information, please visit my campaign website at www.judgebarbarajackson.com.  I would appreciate your support and your vote on November 2nd.