Judge Hunter Murphy became the newest member of the Court of Appeals after taking the oath of office during a ceremony held at the Court of Appeals in Raleigh on Friday, Jan. 13. Chief Judge Linda McGee presided over the special court session and administered the oath to Judge Murphy.

Accompanying Judge Murphy in the ceremony were his wife, Kellie Murphy, and their two children. N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts Director Judge Marion Warren and current and former members of the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court were in attendance.

Judge Murphy is from Haywood County where he practiced law since 2006 before being elected to the Court of Appeals in 2016. Judge Murphy joins three other new and returning members of the Court Appeals who will take their oaths of office in the coming weeks. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina, and his juris doctor (J.D.) from the University of the Pacific School of Law.

The Court of Appeals is the state's intermediate appellate court. The court has 15 judges who serve eight-year terms and hear cases in panels of three. The court is led by a Chief Judge who is appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Court of Appeals decides only questions of law in cases appealed from superior and district courts and from some administrative agencies of the executive branch.