Mark Martin Installed as Chief Justice of North Carolina
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Chief Justice Mark Martin was formally invested as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina at a swearing-in ceremony this morning, January 5, at the Law and Justice Building in Raleigh. In addition to holding the highest judicial office in North Carolina, he will lead the state's Judicial Branch of government. About 600 people attended the event, filling the Supreme Court and overflow areas in the Museum of History.
Chief Justice Martin is the 28th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina and has served in this position since being appointed by Governor Pat McCrory to fill the vacancy created when former Chief Justice Sarah Parker retired. He was elected Chief Justice in November for an eight-year term effective January 1, 2015.
"I plan to hit the ground running to work with judicial system stakeholders, the public, and the leadership of the two other branches of government," said Chief Justice Martin. "My work is in full dedication to strengthening and advancing the rule of law in North Carolina and to protecting and preserving the rights and liberties of all the people, as guaranteed by the constitutions and laws of the United States and North Carolina."
As part of his investiture remarks, Chief Justice Martin spoke about his ongoing work to support his administration of justice plan and about the legislative session scheduled to start later this month. The linchpin for his work is to raise the Judicial Branch's visibility as a separate and co-equal branch of government. He also talked about the dire need to fund the state's courts, after facing $80.6 million in budget cuts during the recession.
The oath of office was administered by Justice Robert H. Edmunds, Jr. Attending dignitaries who made remarks were Governor Pat McCrory, William T. "Bill" Robinson III, and Fourth Circuit Judge James A. Wynn, Jr.
Chief Justice Martin has served the Supreme Court since being elected in 1998. He has authored more than 400 appellate decisions during his 20-year tenure on the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. He is the only sitting judge in North Carolina who has served on the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and Superior Court. He has served on the adjunct legal faculty at Duke University, North Carolina Central University, and the University of North Carolina, and recently concluded a term as the Judicial Division Chair for the American Bar Association. He earned his juris doctor degree (J.D.) from the University of North Carolina School of Law after receiving his undergraduate degree from Western Carolina University. He also has a Master of Laws (LL.M.) Degree in Judicial Process from the University of Virginia. Read more.
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