North Carolina Has A New Chief Justice...

Congratulations to Chief Justice Sarah Parker.

Sarah Parker officially became North Carolina's 27th chief justice on Monday, taking the oath of office in the building where the Supreme Court heard cases more than a century ago before returning recently.

Parker, a Charlotte native on the court as an associate justice since 1993, was appointed by Gov. Mike Easley to replace I. Beverly Lake Jr., who retired last week. Parker, a Democrat like Easley, plans to run for a full eight-year term as chief justice in November.

"I will continue to render to the people justice based on the facts and law on each case, without regard to any personal agenda," Parker told an overflow crowd in the old House chambers inside the Capitol building. "I will give to the duties of the office of chief justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina my utmost energy, ability and integrity."

Check out Justice Parker's bio here...

UPDATE: Congratulations also to Justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson, who was appointed by Governor Easley to fill Justice Parker's old seat on the state's highest court.
- posted by Brian @ 10:59 AM