Judge: N.C. Chief justice 'bought'

Source: McClatchy

Judge: N.C. Chief justice 'bought'

By Gary L. Wright And Jim Morrill | Raleigh News & Observer

Mecklenburg District Judge Bill Belk waded deeper into controversy this week, saying the chief justice of the N.C. Supreme Court had been "bought" by Charlotte lawyers.

Belk, who already faces a misconduct hearing before the N.C. Judicial Standards Commission, made the comment Sunday night to Charlotte's Black Political Caucus, according to several members who attended.

He also told the caucus that one reason he continues to serve on a corporate board -- despite rules against judges' holding such positions -- is for the health insurance.

"It was a little bit unsettling to me," said Franklin McCain, a former caucus chairman. "Here was a sitting judge engaging in partisan politics in public."

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Belk told the group that N.C. Chief Justice Sarah Parker was "bought" by Charlotte lawyers including Bill Diehl, according to several caucus members. Belk said the chief justice, a Democrat, bypassed more experienced Democrats in December when she appointed Republican Lisa Bell as Mecklenburg's chief district judge.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/254/story/66904.html

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I wonder if North Carolinian DUers can add some additional info here.

:-)

I'll ask around.

1. The allegation that C.J. Parker was 'bought' constitutes a statement that brings the court into disrepute by a sitting member of the Bar.

2. Sitting on a corporate board while also a member of the Judiciary creates an appearance of impropriety, and is not allowed.

I would expect he won't be a member of the Judiciary much longer, and may be facing disciplinary action before the State Bar.

I used to practice law in Charlotte. It is a poor legal environment for plaintiffs by design, although that's changing to some extent, and will to a great extent at the federal court level as the president is hopefully able to reshape the Fourth Circuit and the Western District of North Carolina bench, probably in his first term. (The Fourth Circuit is already almost turned around to the light side.)

On the state level, the trial court judges range from extraordinarily good to shockingly otherwise. I don't know Judge Belk, who made the allegations, but I do know of Justice Parker by reputation and am reluctant to conclude that she is ethically corrupted. I appeared before Judge Bell, the last judge mentioned, and she's a good judge, whatever her politics.

Bill Diehl is a name partner at a mid-size firm in Charlotte that mostly or exclusively (I forget if they have a transactional practice) concentrates on litigation. Diehl does criminal defense and family law, and is a "high-profile" lawyer - - think Robert Shapiro or Johnny Cochran in a far, far smaller pond. I met him once and was not left with a strong impression, but frankly, he wields enough influence by dint of his reputation that it would surprise me if the Chief Justice of the N.C. Supreme Court had some backscratching deal with him, as apparently alleged. In fact, the N.C. Supreme Court is underjudged and doesn't even take that many cases, and Charlotte isn't the only population center in the state (although it is the largest city), so I don't know why Diehl's firm would even need such an arrangement.

Judge Belk sounds as though he spoke ill-advisedly. And the preceding poster has it exactly right as far as the potential ethical implications of the judge's remarks.

are elected by votes in an election at the time and as other people running for public office. Belk is the grandson of the Belk founder of the Belk retail organization. They are very rich and have great name recognition providing him with the means to win the election. Judge Belk has a law degree and license but has never practiced. In divorce proceedings, the sitting judge ruled for his wife in many of the questions he ruled on. Belk said he would get him. At the next election, he ran against him and won. In his actions before and after his divorce, he has been the stereotype of the rich and arrogant bastard.