Robert F. Orr
Encyclopedia
Robert F. Orr (born 11 October 1946) is an American
lawyer, formerly an Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
.
Orr was born in Norfolk, Virginia
and spent his childhood in Hendersonville, North Carolina
. After earning his bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, Orr served in the United States Army
from 1968 to 1971. Orr returned to UNC-Chapel Hill to earn his law degree and then entered private law practice in Asheville, North Carolina
. In 1986, Orr was appointed to the North Carolina Court of Appeals
, and in 1994 was elected to the state's highest court. From 1992 to 1993, Orr served on the United States National Park System Advisory Board. Orr is also an adjunct faculty member at North Carolina Central University
, and is a member of the Board of Visitors for NCCU's Law School.
On 31 July 2004, Orr retired from the state Supreme Court during the summer to head the newly-formed North Carolina Institute for Constitutional Law.
In December 2006, the Raleigh News and Observer reported that Orr was exploring a run for Governor of North Carolina
in 2008
. He made his candidacy official in late January 2007. He lost to Pat McCrory in the May 2008 primary. Orr then returned to the NC Institute for Constitutional Law. He stepped down from leading the institute in 2011 and joined the Poyner Spruill law firm.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, formerly an Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
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...
.
Orr was born in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
and spent his childhood in Hendersonville, North Carolina
Hendersonville, North Carolina
Hendersonville is a city in Henderson County, North Carolina, USA, southeast of Asheville. In 1900, 1,917 persons lived in Hendersonville; in 1910, 2,818; and in 1940, 5,381 people lived here. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,223, up fivefold in one century. It is the county...
. After earning his bachelor's 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...
, Orr served 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...
from 1968 to 1971. Orr returned to UNC-Chapel Hill to earn his law degree and then entered private law practice 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...
. In 1986, Orr was appointed to 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...
, and in 1994 was elected to the state's highest court. From 1992 to 1993, Orr served on the United States National Park System Advisory Board. Orr is also an adjunct faculty member at North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University is a public historically black university in the University of North Carolina system, located in Durham, North Carolina, offering programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, professional and doctoral levels....
, and is a member of the Board of Visitors for NCCU's Law School.
On 31 July 2004, Orr retired from the state Supreme Court during the summer to head the newly-formed North Carolina Institute for Constitutional Law.
In December 2006, the Raleigh News and Observer reported that Orr was exploring a run 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:...
in 2008
North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2008
The North Carolina gubernatorial election of 2008 was held on November 4, 2008, coinciding with the presidential, U.S. Senate, U.S. House elections, Council of State, and statewide judicial elections...
. He made his candidacy official in late January 2007. He lost to Pat McCrory in the May 2008 primary. Orr then returned to the NC Institute for Constitutional Law. He stepped down from leading the institute in 2011 and joined the Poyner Spruill law firm.