NC Supreme Court Hopefuls

The News Observer 5 aim for top court Andrea Weigl, Staff Writer The lure of an open seat on the N.C. Supreme Court has already led five hopefuls to announce their intent to run for associate justice. Justice George Wainwright's retirement has attracted the most candidates for any judicial seat this election year, and others are rumored to be considering a run as well. THE CANDIDATES SO FAR: N.C. Court of Appeals judges Ann Marie Calabria of Morrisville and Robin E. Hudson of Raleigh; Beecher "Gus" Gray, 58, of Durham County, an administrative law judge; Jill Cheek of Carrboro, who has spent 20 years working in the N.C. Attorney General's Office; and Senior Resident Superior Court Judge William C. Gore Jr., who is based in Columbus County. LARGEST CAMPAIGN KITTY: Hudson, with about $20,000 in the bank. BEST NICKNAME: Gore, who is called the "Swamp Judge." A WINNING RECORD: Cheek says she has argued 37 cases before the N.C. Supreme Court during the last 16 years, losing only twice. STRONGEST WAKE COUNTY LEGAL TIE: Calabria served as a Wake District Court judge for six years. HOPING THE SECOND TIME IS A CHARM: Gray, who is mounting his second run for the appellate courts; he lost a primary race in 2002 for a Court of Appeals seat.