NCBA, PBS NC Continue Tradition With 2024 Judicial Candidate Forums

“The 2024 Judicial Candidates Forum is made possible by a partnership between PBS North Carolina and the North Carolina Bar Association,” begins Kelly McCullen, Director of North Carolina Channel & Original Productions for PBS North Carolina, as he welcomes viewers to each segment of this year’s forums.

The programming, which featured all eight candidates for seats on North Carolina’s Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, was produced in September and October and provided as a public service to the voters of North Carolina in advance of the November 5 general election.

The partnership predates by several decades the rebranding of UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina to PBS North Carolina, Powered by the UNC System, which occurred on January 12, 2021.

Carolyn is a Black woman with brown hair who is wearing a black suit and grey shirt. Thomas is a white man with light brown hair wearing a grey suit, pale grey shirt and red and blue striped tie. Kelly, a white man with brown hair, wears a black suit. The American flag and North Carolina flag are behind them.

Candidates Carolyn Jennings Thompson and Thomas Murry visit with host Kelly McCullen, right, prior to recording their forum.

Kelly McCullen, who serves as Director of North Carolina Channel & Original Productions for PBS North Carolina, conducted the interviews. Scheduling was coordinated by Andrea Corona, Producer, Public Affairs/Original Productions for PBS NC and Michelle Frazier, Director of Governmental Affairs & Policy for the NCBA.

“Thank you to the North Carolina Bar Association for hosting this forum,” stated Democratic Court of Appeals candidate Martin Moore in his opening statement, echoing sentiments expressed by candidates from both parties.

“I really appreciate the Bar’s coordination of the PBS North Carolina judicial forum,” added Republican Court of Appeals Candidate Valerie Zachary. “I think that we can all agree that a better informed electorate is in our state’s best interest, and the forum serves that goal well. Thank you!”

The interviews were accessible to voters in half-hour segments as they were broadcast on PBS North Carolina, by individual candidates as they were conducted for the Supreme Court seat, and by individual contest as they were conducted for the Court of Appeals seats.

More information is available on the NCBA website.

Russell Rawlings is director of external affairs and communications for the North Carolina Bar Association.