John Tyson, candidate for NC Court of Appeals seat 10

Name: Judge John M. Tyson

Political party: Republican

Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 69

Campaign website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063516370105

Occupation: North Carolina Court of Appeals judge, vice chair of the Dispute Resolution Commission, adjunct professor at Campbell University School of Law and Elon University School of Law.

Education: Master of Laws in Judicial Process (LLM), University of Virginia School of Law (2004). Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Duke University Fuqua School of Business (1988). Juris Doctor (J.D.) with honors, Campbell University School of Law (1979). Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English and secondary education, UNC-Wilmington (1974).

Have you run for elected office before? I was elected judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals in 2000. Sought election to the North Carolina Supreme Court in 2004. Upon completion of my first term, I was appointed by Gov. Michael Easley and served as Recall Judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals and Emergency Superior Court Judge into 2013. I was reelected to the Court of Appeals in 2014 and served continuously since. Elected and served as chair of the Cumberland Soil and Water Conservation District, 1992.

Please list highlights of your civic involvement: I serve as vice-chair of the N.C. Dispute Resolution Commission, appointed by Chief Justice Mark Martin, reappointed by Chief Justice Cheri Beasley. The speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives nominated me to serve on the State Ethics Commission, and I was confirmed by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2012. In 2013 Gov. Pat McCrory appointed me to serve as Chairman of the State Ethics Commission. Resigned in August 2014 to file for reelection to the Court of Appeals.

What reforms, if any, do you think could make the criminal justice system more fair?

Prompt resolution of long-pending cases. Protecting the public from recidivist criminals. Public accountability of judicial actions and decisions and work ethic.

Are the state’s courts accessible enough to average North Carolinians? If not, what are some improvements you will advocate for, if elected?

Yes: Both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals live stream all oral arguments. All are also recorded and available on YouTube.

Tell us about a specific event in your legal career of which you are most proud.

Ruled on over 7,000 appeals and have written over 3,000 opinions with 98% affirmed or left undisturbed by the Supreme Court. While policy allows 90 days to file opinions, I averaged filing within 30 days, using taxpayers’ resources judiciously. Since 1987, I have taught legal education seminars for the bar and at Campbell School of Law. I earned, by peer-review and examinations, being a Board Certified Specialist in real property by the State Bar, the only North Carolina judge so certified.