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

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.

- 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.

- 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. 