Burley Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Burley Mitchell, Jr. is an American jurist and former Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
. At age 15, Mitchell dropped out of high school to join the United States Marine Corps
, only to be kicked out when his age was discovered. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree from North Carolina State University
and his Law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
.
, Mitchell served as an Assistant Attorney General of North Carolina from 1969–1972 and as a District Attorney
from 1972-1977. He was a judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals
from 1977 to 1979, when Governor Jim Hunt
appointed Mitchell as his Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety
.
. In 1996
, Mitchell was elected to the post in the general election, defeating Republican Ray Warren.
As a judge, Mitchell wrote 484 decisions, including the landmark Leandro v. State of North Carolina case regarding educational opportunities for all North Carolina children. He was also well known for reducing the court's backlog. Mitchell was also known for securing additional resources for the Court System for technology and personnel through appropriations at the State level as well as projects for the criminal justice system at the federal level. Mitchell's staff at the Administrative Office of the Courts included North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge Jack L. Cozort, who took leave to work for Mitchell as acting AOC director, and deputy director Jeanne Bonds
, who was serving on the Knightdale Town Council at the time.
, as a member of the University of North Carolina
system board of governors, and as chairman of U.S. Senator Kay Hagan's advisory panel on federal judicial nominees.
In 2006, Mitchell helped found a so-called 527 group
called FairJudges.net, which aimed to educate North Carolina voters about state appellate judicial candidates.
In 2007, Mitchell received the North Carolina Award
for public service.
North Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists of six associate justices and one chief justice, although the number of justices...
. At age 15, Mitchell dropped out of high school to join the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, only to be kicked out when his age was discovered. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree from North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
and his Law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
.
Early career
A veteran of the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, Mitchell served as an Assistant Attorney General of North Carolina from 1969–1972 and as a District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
from 1972-1977. He was a judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals
North Carolina Court of Appeals
The North Carolina Court of Appeals is the only intermediate appellate court in the state of North Carolina. It is composed of fifteen members who sit in rotating groups of three...
from 1977 to 1979, when Governor Jim Hunt
Jim Hunt
James Baxter Hunt Jr. is an American politician who was the 69th and 71st Governor of the state of North Carolina . He is the longest-serving governor in the state's history.-Early life:...
appointed Mitchell as his Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety
North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety
The North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety is an umbrella agency that carries out many of the state's law enforcement, emergency response and homeland security functions. The department was created in 1977...
.
Supreme Court service
Justice Mitchell served as an Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court from 1982 to 1994 and as Chief Justice from 1995 to 1999. Gov. Hunt appointed Mitchell to the office of chief justice in late 1994 to take the place of the retiring James G. ExumJames G. Exum
James G. 'Jim' Exum, Jr. is an American jurist who served as an Associate Justice and Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.After earning his law degree at the New York University School of Law, Exum clerked for North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Emery B. Denny...
. In 1996
North Carolina judicial elections, 1996
The North Carolina judicial elections of 1996 were held statewide on November 5, 1996, to elect judges to the North Carolina Supreme Court and North Carolina Court of Appeals. A total of three seats were on the ballot, and in each case, incumbents who had been appointed by Gov...
, Mitchell was elected to the post in the general election, defeating Republican Ray Warren.
As a judge, Mitchell wrote 484 decisions, including the landmark Leandro v. State of North Carolina case regarding educational opportunities for all North Carolina children. He was also well known for reducing the court's backlog. Mitchell was also known for securing additional resources for the Court System for technology and personnel through appropriations at the State level as well as projects for the criminal justice system at the federal level. Mitchell's staff at the Administrative Office of the Courts included North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge Jack L. Cozort, who took leave to work for Mitchell as acting AOC director, and deputy director Jeanne Bonds
Jeanne Bonds
Jeanne Milliken Bonds was the first female Mayor of Knightdale, North Carolina. She was first appointed to the Town Council in 1994. She was elected Mayor Pro Tem in 1995, elected by the citizens in 1995 ; re-elected in 1999 ; and appointed Mayor in 2002 upon the election of Joe Bryan to the Wake...
, who was serving on the Knightdale Town Council at the time.
Post-Supreme Court activities
Mitchell retired and joined the law firm of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice PLLC. He has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for North Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
, as a member of the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
system board of governors, and as chairman of U.S. Senator Kay Hagan's advisory panel on federal judicial nominees.
In 2006, Mitchell helped found a so-called 527 group
527 group
A 527 organization or 527 group is a type of American tax-exempt organization named after "Section 527" of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code...
called FairJudges.net, which aimed to educate North Carolina voters about state appellate judicial candidates.
In 2007, Mitchell received the North Carolina Award
North Carolina Award
The North Carolina Award is the highest civilian award bestowed by the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is awarded in the four fields of science, literature, the fine arts, and public service....
for public service.