Michael R. Morgan (North Carolina)

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Michael R. Morgan
Image of Michael R. Morgan
Prior offices
North Carolina Supreme Court
Successor: Allison Riggs

Elections and appointments
Last election

March 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Duke University, 1976

Law

North Carolina Central University School of Law, 1979

Contact

Michael R. Morgan (Democratic Party) (also known as Mike) was a judge of the North Carolina Supreme Court. He assumed office on January 1, 2017. He left office on September 8, 2023.

Morgan (Democratic Party) ran for election for Governor of North Carolina. He lost in the Democratic primary on March 5, 2024.

Morgan first became a member of the North Carolina Supreme Court through a nonpartisan election.[1] He was first elected to the court in 2016 to the seat vacated by Robert H. Edmunds Jr. To read more about judicial selection in North Carolina, click here.


Biography

Morgan was born in Cherry Point, North Carolina, and grew up in New Bern. He received a bachelor's in history and sociology from Duke University in 1976 and a J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law in 1979. Morgan served ten years with the state department of justice after graduating law school before being appointed an administrative law judge with the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings in 1989.

In 1994, Gov. Jim Hunt (D) appointed Morgan to the Wake County District Court. He was retained by voters in 1996 and again in 2000 before winning election to the North Carolina Superior Court in 2004. He was elected to a second term in 2012.[2]

Elections

2024

See also: North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2024

General election

General election for Governor of North Carolina

Josh Stein defeated Mark K. Robinson, Mike Ross, Vinny Smith, and Wayne Turner in the general election for Governor of North Carolina on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Josh Stein
Josh Stein (D) Candidate Connection
 
54.9
 
3,069,496
Image of Mark K. Robinson
Mark K. Robinson (R)
 
40.1
 
2,241,309
Image of Mike Ross
Mike Ross (L) Candidate Connection
 
3.2
 
176,392
Image of Vinny Smith
Vinny Smith (Constitution Party)
 
1.0
 
54,738
Image of Wayne Turner
Wayne Turner (G) Candidate Connection
 
0.9
 
49,612

Total votes: 5,591,547
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of North Carolina

Josh Stein defeated Michael R. Morgan, Chrelle Booker, Marcus Williams, and Gary Foxx in the Democratic primary for Governor of North Carolina on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Josh Stein
Josh Stein Candidate Connection
 
69.6
 
479,026
Image of Michael R. Morgan
Michael R. Morgan
 
14.3
 
98,627
Image of Chrelle Booker
Chrelle Booker
 
6.7
 
46,045
Image of Marcus Williams
Marcus Williams
 
5.7
 
39,257
Image of Gary Foxx
Gary Foxx
 
3.7
 
25,283

Total votes: 688,238
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of North Carolina

Mark K. Robinson defeated Dale Folwell and Bill Graham in the Republican primary for Governor of North Carolina on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mark K. Robinson
Mark K. Robinson
 
64.8
 
666,504
Image of Dale Folwell
Dale Folwell
 
19.2
 
196,955
Image of Bill Graham
Bill Graham
 
16.0
 
164,572

Total votes: 1,028,031
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Green primary election

The Green primary election was canceled. Wayne Turner advanced from the Green primary for Governor of North Carolina.

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for Governor of North Carolina

Mike Ross defeated Shannon Bray in the Libertarian primary for Governor of North Carolina on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mike Ross
Mike Ross Candidate Connection
 
59.4
 
2,910
Image of Shannon Bray
Shannon Bray
 
40.6
 
1,985

Total votes: 4,895
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Campaign finance

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Morgan in this election.

2023

See also: Supreme Court of North Carolina justice vacancy (September 2023)

Morgan resigned from the Supreme Court of North Carolina on September 8, 2023.[3]

2016

See also: North Carolina Supreme Court elections, 2016

Morgan filed to run for the North Carolina Supreme Court seat held by Justice Robert Edmunds in 2016. Both Morgan and Edmunds advanced through the June 7 primary to the November 8 general election.[4]

Election results

November 8 general election
Michael R. Morgan defeated incumbent Robert H. Edmunds, Jr. in the general election for the North Carolina Supreme Court, Seat 2.
North Carolina Supreme Court, Seat 2, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Michael R. Morgan 54.47% 2,157,927
Robert H. Edmunds, Jr. Incumbent 45.53% 1,803,425
Total Votes (2,704 of 2,704: 100%) 3,961,352
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections Official Results
June 7 primary election
North Carolina Supreme Court Primary, Seat 2, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Robert H. Edmunds, Jr. Incumbent 48.01% 235,405
Green check mark transparent.png Michael R. Morgan 34.36% 168,498
Sabra Jean Faires 12.04% 59,040
Daniel G. Robertson 5.59% 27,401
Total Votes (2710 of 2710 precincts reporting: 100%) 490,344
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections Official Results


2012

Main article: North Carolina judicial elections, 2012

Morgan was re-elected without opposition on November 6, 2012.[13]

Judicial candidate survey

The North Carolina Bar Association asked its members to rank incumbent judges running for re-election on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being "excellent." Below are Morgan's ratings in five categories and overall:

  • Overall: 4.27
  • Integrity & Impartiality: 4.47
  • Legal Ability: 4.10
  • Professionalism: 4.64
  • Communication: 4.39
  • Administrative Skills: 4.15[14]


Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Michael R. Morgan did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Morgan’s campaign website stated the following:

PUBLIC EDUCATION
VALUE STATEMENT: Every child – whatever their zip code – deserves a sound, basic education, with access to a quality public school that has teachers who are well-qualified in the subjects they teach. Teachers should be paid as professionals to attract and keep the best and brightest to instruct our children. Public schools should teach the true and accurate history of our state.

ECONOMY + JOBS
VALUE STATEMENT: We need a 21st-century economy that works for everyone. Our economy should encourage entrepreneurs and investment in industries of the future. It should create jobs that pay at least a living wage. It should offer access and opportunity for everyone to improve their lives and pursue their dreams through hard work. Our economy should offer equal pay for equal work – regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or sexual ID.

ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE
VALUE STATEMENT: Quality, affordable healthcare is a fundamental human right that should be accessible to every North Carolinian, regardless of their background or residence. All residents have a right to comprehensive healthcare and autonomy in reproductive choices, discussed privately between patient and doctor, and not shared with the state. It is vital to address and rectify racial healthcare disparities, ensuring equality across all counties. Additionally, we must work towards making prescription drug prices affordable for all, reinforcing our commitment to the well-being of every individual in our state.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
VALUE STATEMENT: Every citizen in our state deserves to live in a community where they feel safe and protected, where justice is administered fairly and equitably, and where we collectively address the root causes of violence and addiction. We envision a future where gun violence, drug overdoses, traffic fatalities, and inequalities within the criminal justice system are significantly reduced, and every individual is afforded equal protection under the law.

WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT
VALUE STATEMENT: Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of gender. This is a simple and fair principle. Women require equal access to the economy and the workplace, the ability to decide if and when to become pregnant, and the right to earn equal pay for equal work. They must have access to affordable healthcare, abortion services, and quality childcare, enabling them to participate fully in government, the corporate world, and the political sphere.

LGBTQ+ RIGHTS
VALUE STATEMENT: Full equality should not depend on who you love or how you identify. LGBTQ+ rights are human rights. No employer should be able to discriminate against someone because of their sexual identity or orientation. Gender-affirming health care is a determination that parents, their children, and medical professionals should make…NOT politicians.

CLIMATE CHANGE
VALUE STATEMENT: Climate change poses undeniable threats, ushering in intensified storms and elevated sea levels, but North Carolina is ready to lead in conservation and green energy. Our vision is a state resilient against climate impacts, where sustainable practices support both businesses and homeowners without the burden of increased energy bills. By embracing innovations like electric vehicles and the reduction of dependence on unpredictable gas prices and foreign oil, we are not only safeguarding our communities and economy but are also contributing to a worldwide decrease in greenhouse gas emissions for a sustainable, prosperous future for all.

DEFEND DEMOCRACY
VALUE STATEMENT: Democracy signifies power for the people, yet actions by the Republican-led supermajority General Assembly defy this principle. Voting – a cornerstone of democracy – has been compromised, highlighted by the Supreme Court dilution of the Voting Rights Act, thereby enabling restrictive practices amounting to voter suppression. The surge in redistricting cases—74 filed in 27 states—illustrates the widespread challenges and the ongoing battle for fair representation. This situation underscores the urgent need for action to protect our democratic principles[6]

—Michael R. Morgan’s campaign website (2024)[15]

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Michael R. Morgan campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Governor of North CarolinaLost primary$176,443 $108,545
Grand total$176,443 $108,545
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

Analysis

Ballotpedia Courts: State Partisanship (2020)

See also: Ballotpedia Courts: State Partisanship and Ballotpedia Courts: Determiners and Dissenters

Last updated: June 15, 2020

In 2020, Ballotpedia published Ballotpedia Courts: State Partisanship, a study examining the partisan affiliation of all state supreme court justices in the country as of June 15, 2020.

The study presented Confidence Scores that represented our confidence in each justice's degree of partisan affiliation. This was not a measure of where a justice fell on an ideological spectrum, but rather a measure of how much confidence we had that a justice was or had been affiliated with a political party. The scores were based on seven factors, including but not limited to party registration.[16]

The five resulting categories of Confidence Scores were:

  • Strong Democrat
  • Mild Democrat
  • Indeterminate[17]
  • Mild Republican
  • Strong Republican

This justice's Confidence Score, as well as the factors contributing to that score, is presented below. The information below was current as of June 2020.

Michael
Morgan

North Carolina

  • Partisan Confidence Score:
    Strong Democrat
  • Judicial Selection Method:
    Elected
  • Key Factors:
    • Was a registered Democrat
    • Held political office as a Democrat
    • Donated less than $2,000 to Democratic candidates


Partisan Profile

Details:

Morgan was a registered Democrat as of 2020. From 1983 to 1989, he was Assistant Attorney General within the North Carolina Department of Justice; at that time he was a registered Democrat. He donated $200 to Democratic candidates. The North Carolina Democratic Party contributed $16,858 to his campaign. He was endorsed by People's Alliance PAC and North Carolina Advocates for Justice, both of which endorse Democratic candidates more frequently than Republicans. North Carolina was a Republican trifecta when he was elected to the state supreme court.



State supreme court judicial selection in North Carolina

See also: Judicial selection in North Carolina

The seven justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court are chosen through partisan elections. Justices are elected to eight-year terms and must face re-election if they wish to serve again.[18]

Qualifications

To serve on this court, a person must be licensed to practice law in North Carolina. There is a mandatory retirement age of 72 years.[19]

Chief justice

The chief justice of the supreme court is elected by voters to serve in that capacity for an eight-year term.[20]

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state supreme courts

In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a successor to serve until the next general election which is held more than 60 days after the vacancy occurs. The governor must select an appointee from a list of three recommendations provided by the executive committee of the political party with which the vacating justice was affiliated.[21] An election is then held for a full eight-year term.[22][18]

The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.



See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. At the time of Morgan's election, elections to the North Carolina Supreme Court were nonpartisan. The state adopted partisan elections for the supreme and appellate courts later in 2016.
  2. North Carolina Judicial Branch, "Michael Morgan," accessed August 6, 2021
  3. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named SSCresign
  4. Citizen Times, "Morgan victory returns Democratic majority to NC Supreme Court," November 24, 2016
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 The Outer Banks Voice, "Court candidate Morgan: Diversity, politicalization are issues," June 5, 2016
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  7. People's Alliance PAC, "Peoples Alliance PAC Endorses Mike Morgan for North Carolina Supreme Court," accessed June 7, 2016
  8. WENOCA Sierra Club of Western North Carolina, "Endorsement for Judge," accessed June 7, 2016
  9. Indy Week, "N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice: We Endorse Michael R. Morgan," June 1, 2016
  10. People's Alliance PAC, "Peoples Alliance PAC Endorses Mike Morgan for North Carolina Supreme Court," accessed June 1, 2016
  11. Archive.org, "Judge Michael Morgan," accessed August 6, 2021
  12. Judge Mike Morgan NC Supreme Court, "Endorsements," accessed September 19, 2016
  13. North Carolina State Board of Elections, "November 6, 2012, Official General Election Results," accessed August 6, 2021
  14. NC Bar Association: Judicial Performance Evaluation Survey, January 2012 Scroll to p.6
  15. Mike Morgan, Governor, “Issues,” accessed February 20, 2024
  16. The seven factors were party registration, donations made to partisan candidates, donations made to political parties, donations received from political parties or bodies with clear political affiliation, participation in political campaigns, the partisanship of the body responsible for appointing the justice, and state trifecta status when the justice joined the court.
  17. An Indeterminate score indicates that there is either not enough information about the justice’s partisan affiliations or that our research found conflicting partisan affiliations.
  18. 18.0 18.1 The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | School of Government, "History of North Carolina Judicial Elections," August 2020
  19. North Carolina Judicial Branch, "Judicial Qualifications Summary," September 28, 2016
  20. National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection: North Carolina," accessed September 20, 2021
  21. Ballotpedia Election Administration Legislation Tracker, "North Carolina S382," accessed December 19, 2024
  22. North Carolina General Assembly, "North Carolina Constitution - Article IV," accessed September 20, 2021 (Section 19)