Judge Philip Berger Jr. became the newest member of the Court of Appeals today, Jan. 27, after taking the oath of office at a ceremony held at the Court of Appeals in Raleigh. Chief Judge Linda McGee presided over the special court session and administered the oath to Judge Berger.

Accompanying Judge Berger in the ceremony were his wife, Jodie Berger, and their two children. Chief Justice Mark Martin, Justice Paul Newby, Justice Barbara Jackson, Justice Sam Ervin, and Justice Mike Morgan were in attendance from the Supreme Court, as well as N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts Director Judge Marion Warren.

Judge Berger received his juris doctor (J.D.) from Wake Forest University School of Law. He previously served as an administrative law judge, and served two four-year terms as Rockingham County district attorney. Judge Berger joins three other new and returning members of the Court Appeals who have taken their oaths of office since January 2017.

ABOUT
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.