Chief justice debate missing a candidate

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Candidates for state Supreme Court Chief Justice were scheduled to debate Tuesday in Brunswick County, but only one showed.

Brunswick County Resident Superior Court Judge Ola Lewis and newly-appointed Chief Justice Mark Martin were slated to debate this evening, but Martin decided not to show up and send a surrogate instead. So Lewis took questions from the moderator with Martin’s campaign surrogate only able to deliver opening and closing remarks.

Lewis suggested her opponent was at a fundraiser while missing the debate. The surrogate, Supreme Court Associate Justice Barbara Jackson, said that was not true; that Martin was just unavailable. Martin was reportedly in Burgaw Tuesday.

All the while Lewis was trying to paint herself a very different candidate from Martin.

“I have been with the people for the last 21 years, instead of sitting up in some ivory tower waiting to be next in line with a sense of entitlement,” Lewis said.

“(Martin) is the most experienced justice on our court with 16 years on the Supreme Court itself,” Jackson said. “And with that experience, he is well qualified to serve as our chief justice.”

Lewis also criticized Martin for telling her to stay in her place at a candidate’s forum. It’s a claim his surrogate said she did not believe. Lewis, a registered Republican like Martin, has been rebuffed the NCGOP for challenging Martin for chief justice.