Anita Earls is from Durham, North Carolina. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a law degree from Duke University. She lives with her husband, Charles Walton. She has two sons and three grandchildren.

North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls and the power of ...

Meet the Justices | North Carolina Judicial Branch

Anita Earls was born in Seattle, Washington. She has a bachelor's degree in political economy and philosophy from Williams College and a law degree from Yale University. She lives in Durham with her husband, Charles and has two sons and three grandchildren.

Anita is an attorney. She previously worked at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, where she focused on voting rights and other civil rights issues. 

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Anita is an attorney. She previously founded and served as executive director of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. She has also served as director of advocacy for the University of North Carolina Center for Civil Rights, director of the Voting Rights Project at Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, deputy assistant attorney general for the US Department of Justice, and a partner at Fergusin, Stein Law Firm. Anita has taught at the University of Maryland and the University of North Carolina law schools, and at Duke University.

Anita is currently a justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court. She was elected in 2018 and is currently serving her first term.

As deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, Earls focused on civil rights issues and directed the voting project at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.

- As deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, Earls focused on civil rights issues and directed the voting project at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.

Legal Experience

As of January 5, 2026, Anita Earls’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Judicial Administration

A Conversation with Justice Anita Earls of the North Carolina ...

Advocates for equal justice, judicial independence, and the proactive remedying of systemic bias.

Believes judges have a responsibility to acknowledge data regarding racially disparate outcomes and look for ways to address them rather than remaining silent.

Emphasizes that in "tough cases" (where the court issues a new rule of law), it is vital to have everyone's views represented to find a balance that serves the public interest.

- Advocates for equal justice, judicial independence, and the proactive remedying of systemic bias.
- Believes judges have a responsibility to acknowledge data regarding racially disparate outcomes and look for ways to address them rather than remaining silent.
- Emphasizes that in "tough cases" (where the court issues a new rule of law), it is vital to have everyone's views represented to find a balance that serves the public interest.

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Founded the Southern Coalition for Social Justice to advance the rights of people of color and economically disadvantaged groups.

Served as a board member for North Carolina State Board of Elections.

Served as secretary for North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Commission.

Received the national NAACP’s Civil Rights Champion Award in 2011.

- Founded the Southern Coalition for Social Justice to advance the rights of people of color and economically disadvantaged groups.
- Served as a board member for North Carolina State Board of Elections.
- Served as secretary for North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Commission.
- Received the national NAACP’s Civil Rights Champion Award in 2011.

Community Involvement

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Anita Earls

Anita is an attorney. She previously worked at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, where she focused on voting rights and other civil rights issues. Anita has taught at the University of Maryland and the University of North Carolina law schools

- Founded the Southern Coalition for Social Justice to advance the rights of people of color and economically disadvantaged groups.
- Volunteer, Legal Information Service, The Women’s Center, Chapel Hill, N.C. (2003 to 2008).
- Member, North Carolina State Board of Elections (July 2009 to September 2011).
- Secretary, North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Commission (2006 to 2015).
- National NAACP’s Civil Rights Champion Award – 2011.

Buket Urgen

Sarah is from Mount Airy, North Carolina. She attended Mount Airy High School. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a juris doctor from Campbell University School of Law. She lives with her husband and five children in Mount Airy.

Sarah Stevens has a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a law degree from Campbell University School of Law. She has a husband and five children.

Sarah is a state legislator. She works at the North Carolina General Assembly. She previously worked as a family law attorney.

Stevens files for 2026 NC Supreme Court race

NC Supreme Court's Earls draws criticism over statement on ...

Sarah previously worked as a family law attorney.

Sarah Stevens

Sarah has served in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 90 since 2009.

Served as president of the Surry County Bar Association and maintained a private law practice for over 30 years.

Served as president of the Surry County Bar Association.

Maintained a private law practice for over 30 years.

- Served as president of the Surry County Bar Association.
- Maintained a private law practice for over 30 years.

As of January 5, 2026, Sarah Stevens’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes the law should be applied as written, judges shouldn't create laws from the bench, and will respect the state's constitution while conserving liberty in every case.

Claims she will respect the state's constitution while conserving liberty in every case.

Believes the law should be applied as written.

Thinks judges shouldn't "create laws from the bench."

Wants to "maintain a conservative judicial philosophy on the Court."

- Claims she will respect the state's constitution while conserving liberty in every case.
- Believes the law should be applied as written.
- Thinks judges shouldn't "create laws from the bench."
- Wants to "maintain a conservative judicial philosophy on the Court."

Justice Anita Earls leads GOP challenger Sarah Stevens in ...

An investigation by the North Carolina State Board of Elections found that two contributions by lobbyists to Sarah Stevens’ campaign were illegal, but said they did not represent an “intentional violation.”

- An investigation by the North Carolina State Board of Elections found that two contributions by lobbyists to Sarah Stevens’ campaign were illegal, but said they did not represent an “intentional violation.”

- The North Carolina Supreme Court consists of seven judges, called justices. There is one chief justice and six associate justices. They decide on cases as a group.
- They are the state's highest court, and their decisions on state law are final. They are also the final authority on the North Carolina Constitution. 
- The NC Supreme Court is the final court for appeals in North Carolina. During an appeal, the Supreme Court is primarily tasked with considering whether an error occurred at trial or in judicial interpretation of the law. They also decide appeals in death penalty cases.
- Supreme Court justices are elected to eight-year terms in partisan elections. 

North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice

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Legal Experience

Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement