(The Center Square) – Republican Chris Freeman touts nine years on the bench in District Court while Democrat Martin Moore says his beginnings as a public defender help guide his belief in courts helping people.
The two are vying for Seat 15 on the North Court of Appeals in a statewide race. The court, in three-judge panels, issue rulings on proceedings for errors of law or legal procedure, not the facts of the case.
Election Day is 49 days away, and the term is eight years. Moore was unchallenged in the Democratic primary. Freeman handily won the Republican primary against incumbent Judge Hunter Murphy.
“I am currently serving in my third term, or ninth year, as a District Court judge," Freeman told The Center Square. "I served for eight years as an assistant district attorney prior to being elected to serve as a judge. I currently serve in the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a JAG officer. I have served in the U.S. Air Force since 2013, and I will be promoted to the rank of Major in October of this year.”
JAG is the acronym for Judge Advocate General, a commissioned position to serve as legal advisor to the command assigned in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Last Wednesday, Moore attended a North Carolina Democratic Party virtual event called Taking Back the Courts 101. He was joined by incumbent state Supreme Court Judge Allison Riggs and two Democratic Court of Appeals candidates, all speaking on the importance of Democrats regaining control of the courts in North Carolina.
“I began my career ... and started my career as a public defender,” Moore said. “A good part of that work for me was juvenile work, and I was excited to be a part of that fight because I got to see how much difference our courts can make when they work well helping people, and I’ve also got to see first hand when we make the wrong calls.”
Moore, owner and operator of a mediation and appellate law practice, says on his campaign website that he wants to turn the court away from "partisanship and extremist beliefs."
Moore, 36, was the only Democrat in North Carolina to flip a Republican-held county commissioner seat in the 2022 election.
“When people talk to us about hard races, it would not be our first time here. We are ready for this fight,” he said.
Freeman said upholding the Constitution is a critical value for him. So, too, are, “Following the law as it is, not legislating from the bench. Being fair and impartial. Treating all who I meet on and off the bench with respect.”
In the virtual event, Moore mentioned the case of a 16-year-old who found a firearm in his home and ended up accidentally killing himself.
“The purpose of this example is not just to shock your conscience, but for you to really see what extremism looks like in practice,” Moore said. “It’s critical that we start talking about these things and that people see firsthand what it looks like when you see people putting gun rights and theoretical rights over the realities of what’s happening in our society right now.”
Moore added that he disagreed with the court’s ruling on the case.
“This is not a time for convincing words and talking about theoretical Second Amendment rights," he said. "These are people’s lives being impacted. It doesn’t really change the reality of what we’re dealing with in terms of people putting this pattern of extremism, putting Second Amendment rights and people’s personal individual liberties over what is public safety and what’s best for our state.”
He said cases like these make it “critical” for Democrats to win the three seats on the Court of Appeals. In 2018, the election became partisan again after nearly 15 years of nonpartisan elections. Republicans have an 11-4 majority.
Moore is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic, Equality North Carolina PAC, an LGBTQ advocacy group, and several other abortion-rights groups.
Freeman said he hopes to continue to serve North Carolina.
“It has been an honor to serve North Carolina and my country for the past 17 years," he said. "I was born and raised in North Carolina. I am involved in my community. I pray that God will continue to bless our state and our country. I am thankful for all the prayers and support I have received across our state. I am asking for everyone across the state to go out and vote for me.”
The Center Square was unsuccessful in its effort to obtain statements from the Moore campaign before publication.
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