Several justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court and judges of the North Carolina Court of Appeals were elected to eight-year terms by North Carolina voters on November 5, 2002. Party primary elections were held on Sept. 10. This was the last year in which statewide judicial elections were partisan.
The result of the election was that all incumbent Democrats went down to defeat, and only one Democrat won a seat that was open (i.e. the incumbent chose not to run for another term).
Supreme Court (Seat 1)
Incumbent G. K. Butterfield, a Democrat, had been appointed by Gov. Mike Easley and faced election for the first time. He was defeated by attorney Edward Thomas Brady, a Republican.
In the Republican primary, Brady had defeated Judge Ralph A. Walker.
Supreme Court (Seat 2)
Incumbent Bob Orr, a Republican, defeated North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge Bob Hunter, a Democrat.
In the Democratic primary, Hunter had defeated attorney Bradley K. Greenway.
Court of Appeals (Seat 2)
Incumbent Wanda Bryant, a Democrat, was defeated by District Court Judge Ann Marie Calabria, a Republican.
In the Republican primary, Calabria had defeated Nathanael K. (Nate) Pendley.
Court of Appeals (Seat 3)
In the open-seat contest, Rick Elmore, a Republican, defeated George R. Barrett, a Democrat.
In the Democratic primary, Barrett had defeated Beecher Reynolds Gray. In the Republican primary, Elmore had defeated Fritz Mercer.
Court of Appeals (Seat 12)
Incumbent Hugh Brown Campbell Jr., a Democrat, was defeated by District Court Judge Eric Levinson, a Republican.
In the Republican primary, Levinson had defeated Lorrie L. Dollar.
Court of Appeals (Seat 14)
Incumbent Loretta Copeland Biggs, a Democrat, was narrowly defeated by Sanford Steelman Jr., a Republican. There were no primaries.
Court of Appeals (Seat 15)
In the open-seat contest, Martha Geer, a Democrat, narrowly defeated Bill Constangy, a Republican.
In the Democratic primary, Geer had defeated Marcus W. Williams.
References
- ^ "09/10/2002 Official Primary Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ^ "11/05/2002 Official General Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ^ "09/10/2002 Official Primary Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ^ "11/05/2002 Official General Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ^ "09/10/2002 Official Primary Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ^ "11/05/2002 Official General Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ^ a b "09/10/2002 Official Primary Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ^ "11/05/2002 Official General Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ^ "09/10/2002 Official Primary Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ^ "11/05/2002 Official General Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ^ "11/05/2002 Official General Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ^ "09/10/2002 Official Primary Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ^ "11/05/2002 Official General Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
