2020 North Carolina judicial elections


At least three justices of the seven-member North Carolina Supreme Court and five judges of the 15-member North Carolina Court of Appeals will be elected by North Carolina voters on November 3, 2020, concurrently with other state elections. Terms for seats on each court are eight years. These elections are conducted on a partisan basis.
Incumbent Court of Appeals Judges Linda McGee and Wanda Bryant, did not reopen their campaign accounts with the State Board of Elections, indicating they would not run for re-election, and they did not file for re-election by the time filing closed on Dec. 20, 2019.
Only one candidate from each party filed for each seat, meaning that no party primary elections would be necessary.

Supreme Court

Chief Justice (Beasley seat)

Chief Justice Mark Martin, a Republican, announced his resignation in 2019, triggering an election for his seat in 2020. Governor Roy Cooper appointed Associate Justice Cheri Beasley, a Democrat, to become Chief Justice through 2020.

Candidates

;Declared

Seat 2 (Newby seat)

The seat currently held by Associate Justice Paul Martin Newby is up for election in 2020. Newby has announced that he would run for Chief Justice instead, leaving his Associate Justice seat open.

Candidates

;Declared

Seat 4 (Davis seat)

Beasley's elevation to the position of Chief Justice made her Associate Justice seat vacant, which also triggered a 2020 election. Governor Cooper appointed Court of Appeals Judge Mark A. Davis to fill the vacancy as an Associate Justice.

Candidates

;Declared

Court of Appeals

Seat 4

Candidates

;Declared

Seat 5

Candidates

;Declared

Seat 6

Candidates

;Declared

Seat 7

Judge Reuben Young, a Democrat, was appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper to fill a vacancy, through the end of 2020, and is eligible to run for a full term.

Candidates

;Declared

Seat 13

Judge Christopher Brook, a Democrat, was appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper to fill a vacancy, through the end of 2020, and is eligible to run for a full term.

Candidates

;Declared