To the Editor:
There are important judicial elections this fall. North Carolina voters will choose one Supreme Court justice and three judges for the Court of Appeals. As you decide who to vote for, please keep in mind that Democratic judges are much better at protecting our constitutional rights and our pocketbooks.
Our constitutional rights are under assault like never before. Unfortunately, the Republican majorities on the courts aren’t interested in protecting your rights. The North Carolina Supreme Court stopped enforcing fair legislative districts and instead approved extreme partisan gerrymandering which undermines our ability to choose representatives. Republicans on the Supreme Court recently ruled that the North Carolina Constitution’s guarantee that each child receive “a sound and basic education” is functionally meaningless. In fact, the court has ended judicial review of many legislative actions, which undermines our system of checks and balances.
We should all be distressed by the North Carolina Supreme Court’s embrace of Duke Energy. In May, Republicans on that court approved rate hikes proposed by Duke that had initially been rejected by the North Carolina Utilities Commission. Republicans in the legislature then manipulated the commission in order to benefit Duke.
The Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, Paul Newby, refused to recuse himself despite the fact that his wife has a substantial investment in Duke. Justice Phil Berger Jr. routinely rubber-stamps legislation championed by his father, the now defeated Senate president. To make matters worse, this rate hike applied disproportionately to Western North Carolina.
To preserve our rights, protect our pocketbook and to stand against judicial corruption, vote for Justice Anita Earls for the North Carolina Supreme Court, and judges John Arrowood, Toby Hampson and for the Court of Appeals.
Adam Tebrugge
Cullowhee