Seven of the renowned Baker’s dozen candidates for the Wynn Seat on the NC Court of Appeals took questions and made arguments for their candidacy Thursday afternoon at a forum sponsored by and held at the John Locke Foundation. Attendees included incumbent Judge Cressie Thigpen, appointed after Judge Wynn’s appointment by President Obama to the Federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as Jewel Ann Farlow, Daniel Garner, J. Wesley Casteen, Stan Hammer, and Doug McCollough.
The candidates answered from a variety of questions ranging from theories of jurisprudence to favorite books.
Highlights of the candidate forum included a comment by J. Wesley Casteen on his jurisprudence regarding what he regarded as bad precedence. “Bad precedence needs to be reviewed,” Casteen remarked, and added that he would “not accept a bad decision to be applied.”
When asked what book was of greatest importance to him, Daniel Garner replied the King James Version of the Bible.
Wynn Seat appointee Judge Cressie Thigpen described his lengthy career, including his partnership with former Democratic Speaker Dan Blue. He also opined about the historical importance of liberty in our nation and that a judicial figure must have “deference to the liberties provided by our state.”
Another remark of note came from Jewel Ann Farlow, who announced that she is “conservative and will be a conservative judge.” She followed with a rebuke on a popular paradigm of legal thought stating that, “law is not a living, breathing document.”
Civitas had the pleasure of interviewing these candidates for a brief question and answer session. Videos of these interviews will be available on our website early next week.
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