Today, N.C. House Majority Leader John Bell sent a letter, signed by over 50 members of the Republican Caucus, to Governor Roy Cooper urging him to respect the will of the voters by replacing Chief Justice Martin with someone who has a similar ideological background and pedigree. Martin, the longest-serving justice on the state’s Supreme Court, announced his plans last week to retire next month.
“It would be extremely troubling to ignore the voters’ wishes and unilaterally alter the balance and make-up of the court by appointing a liberal judge who does not share the same values that Chief Justice Martin was routinely re-elected to carry out,” the letter states. “We urge you to reject any effort to politicize the North Carolina Supreme Court in order to achieve partisan goals – something you have adamantly spoken out against in the past.”
The full letter can be read below.
January 31, 2019
Governor Roy Cooper
116 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27603-8001
Dear Governor Cooper,
We are writing in regard to the resignation and replacement of Chief Justice Mark Martin on the North Carolina Supreme Court. Chief Justice Martin served the people of North Carolina with great integrity for over 20 years.
As members of the North Carolina General Assembly, we are hopeful that you will honor his legacy and respect the will of the voters by appointing someone with a similar ideological background and pedigree.
It would be extremely troubling to ignore the voters’ wishes and unilaterally alter the balance and make-up of the court by appointing a liberal judge who does not share the same values that Chief Justice Martin was routinely re-elected to carry out. We urge you to reject any effort to politicize the North Carolina Supreme Court in order to achieve partisan goals – something you have adamantly spoken out against in the past.
Sincerely,
Rep. John R. Bell, IV (District 10)
N.C. House Majority Leader
Speaker Tim Moore (District 111)
Rep. Jay Adams (District 96)
Rep. Dean Arp (District 69)
Rep. Lisa Stone Barnes (District 7)
Rep. Hugh Blackwell (District 86)
Rep. William Brisson (District 22)
Rep. Mark Brody (District 55)
Rep. Dana Bumgardner (District 109)
Rep. Jerry Carter (District 65)
Rep. George Cleveland (District 14)
Rep. Debra Conrad (District 74)
Rep. Kevin Corbin (District 120)
Rep. Ted Davis (District 19)
Rep. Jimmy Dixon (District 4)
Rep. Jeffrey Elmore (District 94)
Rep. John Faircloth (District 62)
Rep. Ed Goodwin (District 1)
Rep. Holly Grange (District 20)
Rep. Kyle Hall (District 91)
Rep. Bobby Hanig (District 6)
Rep. Jon Hardister (District 59)
Rep. Kelly Hastings (District 110)
Rep. Cody Henson (District 113)
Rep. Julia Howard (District 77)
Rep. Chris Humphrey (District 12)
Rep. Pat Hurley (District 70)
Rep. Frank Iler (District 17)
Rep. Steve Jarvis (District 80)
Rep. Brenden Jones (District 46)
Rep. Keith Kidwell (District 79)
Rep. David Lewis (District 53)
Rep. Pat McElraft (District 13)
Rep. Allen McNeill (District 78)
Rep. Greg Murphy (District 9)
Rep. Larry Pittman (District 83)
Rep. Larry Potts (District 81)
Rep. Michele Presnell (District 118)
Rep. Dennis Riddell (District 64)
Rep. David Rogers (District 112)
Rep. Stephen Ross (District 63)
Rep. Jason Saine (District 97)
Rep. Wayne Sasser (District 67)
Rep. Phil Shepard (District 15)
Rep. Michael Speciale (District 3)
Rep. Sarah Stevens (District 90)
Rep. Larry Strickland (District 28)
Rep. John Szoka (District 45)
Rep. John Torbett (District 108)
Rep. Rena Turner (District 84)
Rep. Larry Yarborough (District 2)
Rep. Lee Zachary (District 73)