Name as it appears on the ballot: Stephanie Davis 

Age: 52 

Party affiliation: Unaffiliated 

Campaign website: stephaniedavisforjudge.info 

Occupation & employer: Attorney, Davis Law Office, PC 

1) Please tell us what in your record as a public official or private  citizen demonstrates your ability to be effective, fair, and impartial  on the bench?  

I served the citizens of Wake County as an Assistant District Attorney at the  beginning of my legal career. In my solo practice I represent people charged  with criminal offenses. Additionally, in civil matters, with family law cases I  represent clients pursuing custodial claims, and clients defending custodial claims. Having the experience from both sides in criminal and civil matters  allows me to be more effective as a judge, fair in understanding both sides, and  impartial by not putting weight on one side before hearing all the facts in a case. 

Please be specific. What do you believe qualifies you to serve as a  Superior Court Judge? 

I understand how the courts in North Carilina operate. I have a well-rounded  view of criminal law and civil law procedures which is required as a Superior  Court Judge. I have been Board Certified in State Criminal Law since 2014.  Extensive felony trial experience, favorable peer and judge reviews, and passing an exam were required to become Board Certified in this area. I am experienced  in assisting and communicating with clients from all backgrounds. These  experiences make me qualified to serve as a Superior Court Judge.  

2) How do you define yourself politically? How does that impact  your judicial approach? 

I am unaffiliated. I feel that judges should be non-partisan. This allows judges to  make decisions based solely on the law without the expectation of partisan  rulings. Judges take an oath to follow the law, not a party affiliation. Being  unaffiliated as a judge aligns with this expectation. 

3) What do you believe are the three most important qualities a  judge must have to be an effective jurist?  

First, judges need to have the capacity to listen to all parties that come before  them. Judges should not predetermine how they will rule based on who an attorney is, or if a party is unrepresented. Second, judges need to be patient.  People with various backgrounds come before judges. Judges must have the  temperament to understand this while communicating with all parties. Third,  which is the most important, is judges must follow the law and not legislate from  the bench. 

Which judges, past or present, do you most admire? Why? 

I have learned from a lot of judges over the years. Practicing in several counties  affords me the opportunity to be in front of different judges. What I admire are  the qualities that I see in some of those judges. Instead of stating specific judges I  admire, the qualities I admire in judges are patience, effective listening skills,  being respectful, and the ability to communicate effectively with both sides. 

4) In a sentence, how would you define your judicial philosophy? 

I believe that the laws should always be applied equally and fairly to all people, whether they are represented or not, throughout the litigation process. 

5) Do you favor or oppose public financing of judicial elections?  What changes to North Carolina’s system of judicial elections do  you believe are necessary, if any? 

I take no position on public financing of judicial elections.  

Candidates in judicial elections, however, should be allowed to file unaffiliated or  independent without a petition. The petition requirement could force someone,  who is unaffiliated, to choose a party affiliation just to get on the ballot without a  petition. The petition requirement, in my opinion, is not fair to registered  unaffiliated voters who seek a judicial office. This is a change I believe should  occur with judicial elections. Alternatively, all judicial races should be non partisan.

6) In many cases, voters know very little about the judges they are  electing. Tell us something about yourself that our readers may be  surprised to learn. 

During the past two years I have been teaching myself Spanish. I am writing  several novels. Although the novels are incomplete, they are a work in progress.  Two of the novels are legal dramas, and one is fiction. 

7) If you are in a competitive race, what sets you apart from the other candidate(s)? 

I am unaffiliated. I am not associated with a party. I am Board Certified in  Criminal Law, an area I practice in. I have experience with both criminal  prosecution and criminal defense. I have civil litigation experience handling  complex custody cases from both sides. I represent people from all economic and  social backgrounds. Having a diverse legal background is critical in how effective  judges communicate with the public. These experiences and my dedication to  bring integrity and commitment to the bench sets me apart from the other  candidates for Superior Court Judge.