Lacy Thornburg
Encyclopedia
Lacy Herman Thornburg an American lawyer and judge, was North Carolina attorney general
from 1985 to 1993.
After serving in the United States Army
, Thornburg attended Mars Hill College
when it was a junior college
. He then earned a law degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
. He practiced law in Webster, North Carolina
from 1954 to 1967, and was meanwhile elected to three terms (1961-66) in the North Carolina House of Representatives
. He was then appointed and later elected as a state superior court
judge, serving from 1967 until 1983.
In 1992, he unsuccessfully ran as a Democrat for governor of North Carolina
. He was defeated in the primary by former governor Jim Hunt
, who went on to win the general election.
In 1995, President Bill Clinton
appointed Thornburg a United States District Court
judge for the state's western district, based in Asheville, North Carolina
. He retired on August 31, 2009.
He is the father of Alan Z. Thornburg
and Lacy E. Thornburg, a Harvard-educated orthopaedic surgeon practicing in the Asheville area.
A stretch of U.S. Highway 23 in North Carolina is named for Thornburg.
North Carolina attorney general
The Attorney General of North Carolina is the head of the state's Department of Justice and provides legal representation and advice to all state agencies. He or she does not have the authority to prosecute specific crimes unless requested to do so by a local district attorney...
from 1985 to 1993.
After serving in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, Thornburg attended Mars Hill College
Mars Hill College
Mars Hill College is a private, coed, liberal-arts college affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The college is located in the small town of Mars Hill, North Carolina, due north of Asheville, western North Carolina's largest city...
when it was a junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
. He then earned a law degree at 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...
. He practiced law in Webster, North Carolina
Webster, North Carolina
Webster is a town in Jackson County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 363.Webster was the first county seat of Jackson county, until Sylva took over in 1913.-Geography:Webster is located at ....
from 1954 to 1967, and was meanwhile elected to three terms (1961-66) in the North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
. He was then appointed and later elected as a state superior court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
judge, serving from 1967 until 1983.
In 1992, he unsuccessfully ran as a Democrat for governor of North Carolina
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
. He was defeated in the primary by former 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:...
, who went on to win the general election.
In 1995, President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
appointed Thornburg a United States District Court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
judge for the state's western district, based in Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
. He retired on August 31, 2009.
He is the father of Alan Z. Thornburg
Alan Z. Thornburg
Alan Z. Thornburg is an American lawyer and jurist, formerly a judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals.Born in Sylva, North Carolina, Thornburg earned a history degree from Davidson College in 1989 and a Juris Doctor degree from Wake Forest University in 1996...
and Lacy E. Thornburg, a Harvard-educated orthopaedic surgeon practicing in the Asheville area.
A stretch of U.S. Highway 23 in North Carolina is named for Thornburg.