First Berger Jr., Then Barringer, and Now Stroud

Judge Donna Stroud

Potential Republican candidates for the Paul Newby seat on the NC Supreme Court are forming a scrum. We've noted Phil Berger Jr.'s interest in the seat and Tamara Barringer's. Now Jonathan Kappler says NC Court of Appeals Judge Donna Stroud is eyeing it too.

Source Ballotpedia: Stroud received her bachelor's degree in government summa cum laude from Campbell University at Buies Creek in 1985. She received her J.D. magna cum laude from Campbell University School of Law in 1988. She also earned an LL.M. from Duke University School of Law in 2014. She began her legal career in 1988 with the law firm Kirk, Gay, Kirk, Gwynn & Howell. She then joined the firm Gay, Stroud & Jackson, LLP in 1995. Stroud worked as a lawyer with this firm until 2004. During this time, she also served as an arbitrator for the 10th Judicial District Court and as a certified superior court mediator. In 2004, she was elected to the Wake County District Court (10th Judicial District), where she served until her election to the North Carolina Court of Appeals in 2006. She was reelected to an eight-year term in 2014. Along with fulfilling her judicial duties, Stroud currently works as an adjunct law professor at Campbell University School of Law.

In other words (and on paper), she's better qualified for the Supreme Court than either Phil Berger Jr. or Tamara Barringer.

Could be a really interesting Republican judicial primary in 2020 for the Paul Newby seat on the NC Supreme Court.